WATER RESOURCES COMMISSION CALLS FOR EFFECTIVE COLLABORATION IN SAFEGUARDING WATER BODIES

The Western Regional Ankobra Basin Officer at the Water Resources Commission, MR ACQUAH-SWANZY FRANCIS, has called on the general public to join hands for effective collaboration in safeguarding the various water bodies across the country for today and posterity.

According to Mr. Acquah-swanzy Francis, recognizing the key role of communities, water is there for all, and its protection, and sustainability for posterity are dependent on daily activities.

He indicated that it is important to safeguard the Water Resources for today’s youth and the generation yet unborn.

The Western Regional Ankobra Basin Officer noted that they can not just do anything to the Water Bodies and expect the future generations to be happy with the current generation.

The Head of the Geological Engineering Department at UMaT, Dr. Kofi Adomako-Ansah also added that clean water should be the benefit of all.

Dr. Kofi Adomako-Ansah further stated that if the continuation of the activities of illegal galamseyers persists, then communities that have access to clean water bodies may not be able to accept polluted water.

Notwithstanding, he emphasized that such illegal activities on the Water Bodies may bring about conflict and confusion between the illegal miners and the communities where the water bodies flow.

“To be able to keep peace and unity among communities themselves, those who are at the head and the downstream of the Water Bodies must ensure that they do not destroy the Water Bodies” ” he added.

Stressing the need for the program, the Dean of the Faculty of Geosciences and Environmental Studies Associate Professor, Anthony Ewusi, indicated that the program forms part of a wider intent of the faculty to introduce community-oriented programs in water resource management and sanitation.

Speaking at the 2024 World Water Day at UMaT in Tarkwa and touching on the importance of water in human life, Associate Professor, Anthony Ewusi said they might run into a problem if they don’t try to protect the surface of the Water Bodies.

He indicated that once they can do that things would be normal but if they are unable to do so, gradually it is going to affect the groundwater, which the people at large might go to a point of no return.

According to the Dean Faculty Of Geosciences And Environmental Studies at the University of Mines and Technology “UMaT”, his checks revealed that more than 1,000 Small Scale Miners in the Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipality, only 3 are having Water Permit with permission to touch the water bodies.

“We are basically on the wrong side of the law if the Small Scale Miners are not forced to have water permits”, Professor Ewusi emphasized.

Addressing participants, the Executive Secretary of Goldfields Foundation stressed the need for concerted efforts in managing water resources in the Country.

Delivering a speech on behalf of the MCE of Tarkwa Nsuaem Municipal Assembly (TNMA), Rev Michael K. Johnson, the CWSA Manager of TNMA stressed the need for local communities to play an active role in the management of their water infrastructure.

This was made known to the media during the 2024 World Water Day celebration at the *UMaT-Tarkwa Water Falls on Friday, 22, 2024, under the global theme *“Water for Peace” to recognize the critical role that local communities play in the management of water resources.

The annual World Water Day is important on the calendar of every environmentalist in the sense that they use the opportunity to educate themselves more on the importance of water*

For the past 2 years, the Faculty of Geosciences and Environmental Studies of UMaT-Tarkwa together with the Ankobra Basin Secretariat of Water Resources Commission have been organizing a series of events to mark the celebration.

Among them were a training program for stakeholders in local mining communities and a Quiz Competition in UMaT.

The program was meant to enlighten local community members in and around Tarkwa on water-related issues and empower them as agents of change.

Again it was to encourage local communities to adopt efficient strategies in ensuring the sustainable and efficient use of water.

It brought together over 300 participants from catchment areas of AngloGold Ashanti Iduapriem Ltd, Goldfields Ghana Ltd, Tarkwa and Damang, Ghana Manganese Company, and Golden Star Wassa Ltd. Also in attendance were participants from the Tarkwa Nsuaem Municipal Assembly (TNMA).

Representatives from partnering mining firms equally touched briefly on some water-related interventions in their catchment areas.

The program was supported by AngloGold Ashanti Iduapriem Ltd, Goldfields Ghana Limited, Ghana Manganese Company, and TNMA.

Story: BENJAMIN BRAY