Nana Yaw Barima Barnieh, Communications Manager for Ghana Water Limited in the Western and Central regions, has declared that the effects of illegal mining, or “galamsey,” on water bodies are equivalent to murder.
Barnieh’s remarks follow GWL’s announcement that Cape Coast, Elmina, and surrounding areas in the Central Region will face water shortages due to galamsey activities.

According to GWL, pollution in the catchment area has drastically reduced water intake, with around 60% of the catchment capacity silted by galamsey.
The Sekyere Hemang Water Treatment Plant (WTP) has faced a significant demand-supply gap due to the polluted Pra River, which has compromised raw water intake.
In an interview with Selorm Adonoo on The Point of View on Channel One TV, Nana Barnieh emphasized that individuals engaging in destructive mining practices are effectively taking lives by contaminating vital water resources.
“[The situation] is dire as the word dire. Galamsey in water bodies, river bodies is tantamount to murder.
We all say all the time that water is life, so for somebody to enter a river body that is the source of drinking water for millions of people in a country to dig for gold and by so doing polluting that water beyond treatment, that person is taking your water away from you and by extension he’s taking your life from you. So, galamsey on river bodies is nothing but murder.”
He emphasized the urgent need to address the situation before it spirals out of control, noting that if the turbidity of the water exceeds 1,500, it becomes impossible to treat.
“Galamsey is not only taking place in River Pra, it’s also so huge on Birim River. And on Birim River, we have about four plants. In the Bonsu and the Osino plants, if the turbidity goes beyond 1,000 or at most 1,500, the plant is unable to treat the water.
“If the water is so dirty and goes beyond 1,000 or 1,500 at Bonsu or Osino, the plant is shut down.”