The Trades Union Congress (TUC) has raised grave concerns about Ghana’s worsening water crisis following a fact-finding visit to the Agona Kwanyako Water Treatment Plant in the Central Region.
The inspection, which forms part of the TUC’s nationwide assessment of the impact of illegal mining (galamsey) on water bodies, revealed alarming levels of pollution threatening water supply to over ten districts dependent on the Kwanyako facility.
Speaking to the media after the visit, TUC Secretary-General, Joshua Ansah, described the situation as “deeply worrying,” warning that the country could soon face a full-blown water crisis if decisive action is not taken.
“What we have seen here today is disturbing. The level of destruction caused by galamsey activities is beyond imagination. The plant engineers had to install a surface pump just to draw small volumes of water for processing. If this continues, the plant could completely shut down, and water will become a luxury for ordinary Ghanaians,” he lamented.
Mr. Ansah further cautioned that the illegal mining menace has extended beyond local communities, posing a national security and public health threat. He therefore called on President John Mahama to declare a state of emergency to confront the crisis head-on.
“We cannot continue to pretend this is a local issue. It is a national disaster in the making. If the government fails to act, the TUC will have no choice but to take a drastic decision in the interest of workers and the entire nation,” he warned.
Officials at the Kwanyako Treatment Plant disclosed that siltation and chemical contamination of the Ayensu River, the plant’s main source of raw water, have significantly reduced production capacity. The Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) has, in recent weeks, been rationing water supply to several communities including Agona Swedru, Bawjiase, Awutu Beraku, and Breman Asikuma.
Residents in the affected areas have been compelled to rely on unsafe alternative sources such as boreholes and streams, raising fears of waterborne diseases.
Environmental experts accompanying the TUC delegation noted that ongoing galamsey operations upstream are releasing heavy metals, mercury, and other toxic substances into water bodies, posing long-term ecological damage.
The TUC Secretary-General urged government agencies, traditional leaders, and civil society groups to unite in what he called a “national rescue mission” to save the country’s rivers and forests from complete destruction.
“We must treat this as a fight for survival. If our water sources die, industries will die, agriculture will collapse, and families will suffer. We cannot wait until the taps run dry before acting,” Mr. Ansah emphasized.
The TUC’s visit to Kwanyako forms part of a broader investigative tour covering other galamsey-affected areas, including Kyebi in the Eastern Region and Akyem Oda in the Birim Central Municipality. The union says it will present its findings to government and demand immediate policy action to protect Ghana’s remaining freshwater reserves.
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