Illegal mining activities force closure of Konongo water treatment plant

A $58 million water project for Konongo in the Asante-Akyem Central Municipality of the Ashanti Region cannot be opened for use.

This is because illegal miners have blocked flow of water upstream in a river and two tributaries, depriving the dam of water for treatment.

The Ghana Water Company has also been compelled to shut down one of its old treatment plants as a result.

The original 1 million gallons per day capacity Konongo Dam is built on River Annu and two main tributaries.

Government as part of the Konongo, Kumawu and Kwahu Ridge water project in what is commonly known as the 3K has expanded the dam’s capacity it to 3.6 million gallons.

But operations of illegal miners upstream are depriving the dam of maximum water intake for treatment.

According to water company officials, activities of illegal miners have destroyed water pumps at the dam and cause delay in the commissioning of the newly expanded dam.

Chief Manager, Ashanti Production, Ing Kwaku Awotwe says both quality and quantity of water is affected as illegal miners block and divert Atunsu and Peeni streams.

“It’s first of all depriving us of quantity, enough raw water for production and it is also affecting the quality of the raw water.

It is so turbid that we cannot treat the water now. So basically it has made the treated plant redundant because the raw material that is needed is being polluted upstream by the illegal miners. We have shut down the old treatment plant; the 1 million-capacity treatment plant because of quality of the water and quantity”. Ing Awotwe said.

Illegal miners had abandoned their Atunsu site leaving uncollected heap of sand at the banks of Atunsu stream. But the brownish milky texture of the once sparkling clean water is visible.

Managing Director of Ghana Water Company, Fred Lokko called for immediate action to be taken stop the illegal miners from carrying further destructions.

“It is not possible to fill the reservoir and as we speak, we can’t even operate. It is a shame that if the government should spend as much as 58 million dollars and for there to be no water for the people, that would be a big shame”. He said.

Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing, Dr. Kwaku Agyeman- Mensah, and Regional Security Council members have been visiting the water treatment project site.

Dr. Kwaku Agyemang-Mensah has been calling for support from traditional authorities and stakeholder participation to end the menace.

He warned the area risks losing the project and future government- assisted water projects if the situation is not salvaged.

“We are going to get 3.6 million gallons a day which will serve not only Konongo but Hwediem, Agogo, Domeabra and what have you.That project is costing us $58 million and therefore we should not and cannot; and must not allow just a few individuals in their attempts to make a living prevent a larger majority from getting access to good drinking water”

Meanwhile, the Regional Security Council has announced a monitoring team would be commissioned to track down the miners.

Ashanti Regional Minister, Alexander John Ackon who doubles as chairman of REGSEC says the team will ensure the illegal miners do not come back.