Dr. Kingsley Agyemang, the Member of Parliament for Abuakwa South says he has watched with profound sorrow as unscrupulous individuals relentlessly pollute the Birim River through illegal mining, locally known as galamsey.
Dr. Agyemang described the Birim River as the soul of Abuakwa South, stating that the pollution has caused the people to “bleed at heart.”
In a press statement, the MP disclosed that the resulting contamination has made it impossible for the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) to operate the Kyebi Water Treatment Plant for over three months, cutting off the supply of potable water to Kyebi and the entire Municipality.
“The Birim River, once the pride and lifeline of the people of Abuakwa South, has been tragically transformed into a thick sludge of poison,” the MP lamented.
Environmental and Social Impact:
Dr. Agyemang revealed that the river’s turbidity level has skyrocketed to an alarming 64,000 NTU (Nephelometric Turbidity Units).
He described this level as dangerously high and rendering the water untreatable and unsafe for consumption.
“This grim reality means that thousands of my constituents have been left without clean water for over three months,” the MP stated tearfully.
The MP stressed, “Water is life, and its absence is the absence of life itself. Abuakwa South, the land of our birth and hope, now gasps for breath because a few individuals have chosen greed over the collective good.”
Concern:
A major source of the MP’s distress is that many of those engaging in these destructive activities are foreign nationals from neighboring countries.
Their actions, he stressed, are not only devastating the natural environment but also undermining the peace, safety, and moral fabric of society.
“We are witnessing a surge in crime, drug abuse, and general social instability—consequences that threaten the very foundations of our community,” the MP warned.
He further emphasized that the impact of galamsey extends far beyond the rivers. It is poisoning farms, crippling cocoa production, weakening health systems, and robbing children of their education.
“When our rivers are dead, our farms unproductive, and our schools empty, we lose not only our livelihood but also our future,” Dr. Agyemang highlighted.
Call to Action
Dr. Agyemang affirmed that as the elected representative for Abuakwa South, he cannot remain silent while his constituents suffer and the land perishes.
“I am therefore making a passionate appeal to all the relevant institutions within the Criminal Justice value chain including the Police, the Prosecution Service, the Judiciary, and the Environmental Protection Agencies to act decisively and without fear or favor,” the MP urged.
He insisted that the law must bite, and it must bite hard. Those who profit from environmental destruction, whether local or foreign, must face the full rigors of the law.
While commending the Abuakwa South Municipal Assembly and security agencies for their recent efforts to clamp down on illegal mining operations, the MP cautioned that this does not become another nine-day wonder.
Story By Michael Ofosu-Afriyie,
Kumasi.
