The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah has sounded alarm over the levels of pollution of major water bodies in the country, disclosing that they have exceeded the limits for treatment for portable use.
The minister, who was delivering a presentation during the opening of Ghana Mining in Motion on Monday said the situation was accounting for the intermittent shutdown of water treatment plans across the country.
He said had been shaken to hear upon assuming office that 44 out of the 188 forest reserves in the country had been totally destroyed. He said the area equaled 7,500 football fields.
Even worse, he explained was the pollution of sources of water that had affected turbidity levels of major water bodies.
“What is worse is that because our major water bodies take their sources from these forests, almost 80% of our major water bodies take their source from these rivers. We also have pollution of our main water bodies and to the extent that turbidity levels of water bodies are at alarming rates between 5,000 and 12,000 NTU, above the maximum threshold of 500 NTU for treatment for portable use,” Mr. Buah said.
The government has been waging war on the scourge of illegal mining that has ravaged several water bodies and vegetations. Indeed, the issue was a topical during the last year’s general election which saw the New Patriotic Party (NPP) lose power in part because the government was seen to be ineffective in addressing the menace.
As part of measures to curtail the menace, the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) government led by the Ministry of Lands have introduced a series of measures including deploying water guards to protect the water bodies and enhancing punitive measures against offenders of environmental laws.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/Mitchell Asare Amoamah
