The Managing Director of the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL), Dr Clifford Braimah has stated that protecting water bodies is a security issue and that security forces must protect these resources from illegal mining.
According to him, similar to other countries where water bodies are considered national security zones, the Water Resources Commission, although a civilian agency, operates under the Ministry of Defence.
He noted that, the nation should assess the military’s ability to address this issue if it remains unresolved.
The Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) has expressed serious concerns about illegal mining in the Pra River, which is significantly disrupting their operations.
The water supply in the Central Region, including Cape Coast, Elmina, and surrounding areas, has been severely affected, leaving residents without water for days. These mining activities are compromising the Company’s ability to provide clean and accessible water, thereby threatening regional water security.
Speaking to Joy News as part of the ‘Poisoned Rivers’ documentary, Dr Braimah said, “As of now, once in a while, we bring them in, but that is a flash, then it goes off. But if you make it their responsibility and they cannot solve our water bodies being polluted, how can they guarantee that, when there is an invasion of foreign forces, they would be able to stop them?”
He stated that if protecting water bodies were designated as a national security issue, with the Water Resources Commission functioning as a civilian agency under military oversight, the problem could be resolved within 100 days.
Dr Braimah noted that the military would ensure high-quality results and could handle the task effectively if assigned that responsibility.
“So, I think we have reached a stage where we need to be blunt about it. We need to be truthful and confront it head-on. If we leave it in the hands of politicians, Mr A will say, ‘When I come, I will bring them back,’ while Mr B will say, ‘When I come, I will make sure they do not do it,’ and it becomes a game.”