Five (5) persons have been arrested for encroaching on Barekese Dam land in the Ashanti Region.
The five were arrested following an alarm raised by some concerned residents of Daban.
The Barekese dam is the major source of potable water for more than half of the residents of Kumasi and adjoining communities, producing 30 million gallons of water every day.
But increased human activities, including illegal mining and logging within the catchment area, are posing threats to the dam’s existence.
The residents of Marban expressing their concerns to Pure FM’s Osei Kwadwo said the activities of the encroachers who are into various activities such as farming, sand-winning and the building of houses in the catchment areas of the dams will affect the supply of water from the Dam.
“We have complained about the activities of the encroachers for several years but nothing has been done about it. Nothing will stop us from protecting our lands and the Dam,” they complained.
The Chairman of the Concerned Citizens of Marban, Micheal Owusu Serebour however added “if government is tired of protecting Barekese Dam lands from encroachers, we will work tirelessly to protect the land and the dam”.
“We foresee looming water shortage in Ashanti Region due to the activities of the encroachers. The situation is disheartening which needs to be addressed with immediate effect” he said.
