Tontokrom residents resort to sachet water as 'galamsey' destroy water bodies

Residents of Manso Tontokrom, a farming community in the Amansie West District, have been forced to resort to the use of sachet water for daily house chores, as mining activities pollute their water sources.

The Komkowu River that serves the main source of water has been inundated with poisonous chemicals through illegal mining activities.

An alternative source of water, mechanised wells powered by electricity, are unreliable due to erratic power supply.

Residents want the government to intervene in saving the situation.

Gabriel Marfo, the Assembly member for the Tontokrom community, says the situation is dire.

"Sometime ago we used this river for our daily chores, but now small-scale miners 'Galamseyers’ have polluted our river and have killed all the fishes in it. The worst part of the situation is the rampant breakout of diseases like typhoid fever. We are pleading to the government to save our situation,” he said.

Mr. Marfo tells Nhyira FM residents have resorted to using sachet water for all chores whenever there is no electricity to power the mechanized boreholes.

“Averagely I buy not less than three packs of sachet water daily which cost more than 10 cedis. As a result this situation has increased our cost of living,” Mr. Marfo lamented