Every day, rivers that once brought hope become sources of fear. Rivers that fed communities, sustained farms, and powered life are now choked with mud, mercury, and cyanide. The cost is not just environmental — it is human, economic, and moral.
Illegal mining, known as galamsey, is ravaging Ghana’s water bodies. And the question we must all ask is simple but urgent: What has the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) done — and what more must it do — to protect the waters we depend on?
Evidence of Struggle
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In Cape Coast, Elmina, and other Central Region communities, GWCL has reported that Sekyere Hemang Water Treatment Plant is receiving very limited raw water due to galamsey pollution. The catchment areas, once reliable sources, are now silted and polluted. GBC Ghana Online
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At the Daboase Water Treatment Plant in Sekondi-Takoradi, turbidity levels have skyrocketed. The plant must filter water with suspended solids whose levels are far beyond what the plant was built to manage. Machinery is breaking down often, and chemical treatment is costing much more. GNA+2GNA+2
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In the Central Region, GWCL’s Water Quality Assurance Manager described water pollution from toxins like mercury and cyanide as presenting serious health and environmental risks. Communities are being forced to seek alternative water sources, often unsafe or far away. GNA
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The Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) warns that if galamsey is not fully addressed, GWCL’s costs will continue to rise, which could lead to higher tariffs for all consumers. Purification chemicals, energy usage, and maintenance are becoming more expensive because of the pollution. GNA+1
What GWCL Has Done
From what the public record shows, here are some of the steps GWCL has taken so far:
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Public Warnings and Media Statements
GWCL officials have repeatedly cautioned the public about the dangers of mining near water sources. They have pointed to rivers like Birim, Pra, and others being polluted, flagged for human health risk. GNA+2GNA+2 -
Adjusting Treatment Practices
To deal with high turbidity levels, the company has increased use of chemicals and polymers during treatment. It has also had to shut down or reduce operations in certain treatment plants when raw water becomes too contaminated. GBC Ghana Online+3GNA+3GNA+3 -
Collaborations and Interagency Engagements
GWCL has warned other regulatory bodies, joined the public conversation, and published notices urging enforcement agencies to act. They have become vocal about how galamsey affects water security. GNA+1
Where GWCL Must Step Up
Despite these efforts, the evidence shows that what has been done so far is not enough. Here’s what urgent action should look like:
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Source Protection Enforcement: It’s not enough to treat polluted water. GWCL, together with environmental and mining authorities, must enforce strong buffer zones around rivers and catchment areas. All illegal mining within these zones must be shut down immediately.
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Invest in Early Warning & Monitoring: Real-time monitoring of water quality (turbidity, chemical contamination) upstream of abstraction points. This would allow detection before contamination and avoid costly treatment or plant breakdowns.
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Upgrade Treatment Infrastructure: Many treatment plants are overstretched due to extreme levels of pollutants. Investments must be made to modernize and scale up the capacity of plants in heavily affected areas.
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Public Transparency & Accountability: GWCL should publish data on raw water quality, treatment costs, challenges, and give frequent updates to communities. Let the public see how pollution is affecting water supply and what is being done about it.
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Advocacy and Community Education: Communities need to know how illegal mining is hurting their water and health. GWCL must work with civil society and local leaders to educate, partner in river cleanups, and build local ownership of water security.
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Policy and Regulatory Push: Work with government to ensure environmental laws tied to water protection are strictly enforced, offenders are prosecuted, and licenses for mining are conditionally reviewed based on environmental impact.
A Call to Action
Every business protects its raw materials. A bakery guards flour. A distillery ensures water purity. If GWCL is the guardian of Ghana’s water, then the rivers should be treated as sacred supplies, not dumping grounds.
As citizens, we have a right to ask:
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Why are treatment plants failing despite heavy investment?
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Why are chemicals needed in such quantity?
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Why do we still see rampant mining near water sources without enforcement?
GWCL must not wait until the next drought, the next disease outbreak, or the next water crisis. The time for bold leadership, decisive action, and genuine protection is now.
We call on:
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GWCL to publish its water protection plan within 30 days.
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Government to reinforce policing and environmental protection around water bodies.
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Civil society to monitor, report, and hold authorities accountable.
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All Ghanaians to demand clean water not just as a promise, but as a right.
Let’s remind GWCL and the government: water is not just for profit or pipeline — it is life itself. It is time they protect it as if our lives depend on it — because they do.
