The Trades Union Congress (TUC) has urged the government to take decisive measures to halt illegal mining in the country, expressing grave concerns over the current state of the Kwenyako Water Treatment Plant.
The TUC described the situation as “disgusting” and voiced their worries regarding the implications for water supply.
During a recent working visit to the Kwenyako Water Treatment Plant, the TUC’s executive body sought firsthand information following a shutdown by the Ghana Water Company (GWC) due to illegal mining activities, commonly referred to as “galamsey.”
The TUC warned that Ghana risks facing a widespread water shortage if the government fails to act against illegal mining effectively.
This visit came after the recent reopening of the plant, which had been forced to shut down due to extreme turbidity levels in the water, leading to damage to parts of the accessories used for water treatment.
Addressing the press on Friday, October 10, during the tour, TUC Secretary-General Joshua Ansah described the situation as “seriously troubling,” noting that pollution from galamsey activities is pushing some treatment plants to the brink of collapse.
He urged President John Dramani Mahama to declare a state of emergency to confront the crisis directly, cautioning that the TUC may be compelled to take drastic action if the government fails to respond.
Mr. Ansah further indicated that TUC leadership would convene after completing a nationwide inspection of water treatment facilities to determine the next course of action. He called on President Mahama to recognise the urgent need for intervention.
“TUC is made up of General Secretaries, Executive Committee members, and Heads of Department. We made the journey to Kwenyako and now we’re at Kibi water heads. Our objective is to ascertain the damage caused and continue to be caused by illegal mining activities.
“We have seen the damage; we can confidently describe the situation as a heinous crime being perpetrated against Ghanaians by the activities of a few greedy criminals. It is clear to us that if galamsey is not stopped, Ghana will not have any water to provide for us in the next few years.
“Galamsey is a threat to our collective survival. The state and our government can no longer stand aloof, failing to act and neglecting their sacred responsibility to protect Ghanaians and the future of the country,” he expressed.
