News:
February 2, 2023
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Ghana Cocoa Board Joseph Boahen Aidoo has warned that if nothing is done to curtail the illegal mining and destroying of water bodies in the country, Ghana would have to import water for farming and other water related activities.
According to him there is real danger stating that rivers like the Pra, Ankobra and Tano others would be no more. For now, a lot of cocoa farms are also in danger following the destruction to these water bodies.
He added that everybody, not only he the CEO of cocoa board should be concerned that water bodies are being destroy through the activities of the illegal mining.
He made this know when he appeared before the Public Account Committee (PAC) as part of its public hearing and was asked a public interest question by the Ningo-Prampram lawmaker whether he was worried, about the activities of the illegal mining.
“Mr. Chairman we have a lot of mercury being discharged which posses a lot of health risk for human beings, not just for those who stay around these corridors and enclaves, but extends to those of us in Accra”.
Despite the fact that in Accra there are no illegal mining activities, “for all you know you go and buy a nice Tilapia for your afternoon meal who knows maybe that Tilapia or that red fish has actually swallowed some mercury”.
“Again, you are likely to be affected; the fight against galamsey should not be left for those who stay around the rivers, cocoa farmers, it should be every body’s fight and for the cocoa sector particular its difficult for, “us to do irrigation; you cannot use bore holes”.
He further told the Committee that surface run offs water are use for irrigation as the river bodies are polluted and contain chemicals, cocoa farmers have to transport water to their homes and to their farms through the use of tricycles, he noted.
Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com