Water Treatment expert, David Abakah has said illegal mining popularly known as ‘galamsey‘ is threatening the existence of Ghanaians.
According to him, continuously drinking galamsey-contaminated water is slowly killing Ghanaians hence there is the need for urgent steps to end the menace.
Mr Abakah said this on Adom FM’s morning show, Dwaso Nsem Monday, explaining that, it is due to the presence of mercury in the water.
“The mercury slowly poisons our health and so if you are a pregnant woman for instance and you drink this water, it affects the development of the foetus and may result in deformity.
“Galamsey is putting us at risk because even if it doesn’t kill you slowly, it piles up in the system and threaten your health. So if we don’t put in place urgent measures to deal with the menace, we are killing ourselves,” he stated.
This was on the back of concerns by the Ghana Water Company (GWCL) that galamsey activities on the Pra River was adversely affecting water supply in the Central region.
GWCL stated water supply in Cape Coast, Elmina, and neighbouring communities has been drastically affected, leaving residents in dire straits.
For days, taps in these areas have run dry, forcing customers to cope with the worsening situation as the once reliable water flow has been cut off.
The Company’s ability to provide clean, accessible water is being compromised, with illegal mining casting a long shadow over the region’s water security.
Source: Gertrude Otchere
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