The Trades Union Congress (TUC) has issued a dire warning that Ghana is on the brink of a nationwide water crisis unless the government takes decisive action against illegal mining, known as galamsey. The TUC’s warning follows a recent visit to the Kwanyako Headworks and the Anum Apapam community, where the Ayensu River has been severely polluted by galamsey activities.
The situation is “deeply troubling,” according to TUC Secretary-General Joshua Ansah, who noted that water treatment plants are struggling to operate due to extreme pollution. “If we don’t act now, we’ll face severe water shortages and public health risks,” he cautioned.
Ansah urged President John Mahama to declare a state of emergency to tackle the crisis, warning that the TUC may take “drastic action” if the government fails to respond. “We’ve seen the devastating impact of galamsey with our own eyes, and it’s alarming,” he said. “We demand that the government takes pragmatic measures to end galamsey once and for all.”
The TUC plans to conduct a nationwide inspection of water treatment facilities to determine the next course of action. “Galamsey must stop, and it must stop now,” Ansah emphasized.
