The Tano Basin Secretariat of the Water Resources Commission has raised concerns over the increasing pollution of water bodies in the Ahafo Region as illegal mining activities continue to threaten the environment.
An officer at the Secretariat, Yaw Konadu, said the activities of illegal miners were gradually destroying water bodies in the region, particularly the Tano River in the Tano North Municipality.
Speaking to Adom TV at Goaso during a Regional Multi-Stakeholder Mining Forum organised by the Nature and Development Foundation (NDF), Mr Konadu described the situation as a potential “time bomb” that required urgent attention.
The forum was held under the theme, “Reducing Deforestation Caused by Pervasive Irresponsible Mining.”
Mr Konadu called on chiefs in the Ahafo Region to come together and take a more active role in the fight against illegal mining.
He argued that traditional authorities must lead efforts to protect water bodies and other natural resources in their communities, adding that relying solely on politicians to address the menace had not yielded the needed results.
Meanwhile, Deputy Director of Operations at the Nature and Development Foundation, Glen Asomaning, has appealed to the government and the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources to involve chiefs more actively in decisions concerning mining.
According to him, many traditional authorities currently lack the capacity and government backing required to effectively confront illegal miners operating in their areas.
Mr Asomaning said strengthening the role and support of chiefs would help improve efforts to curb illegal mining and protect forests and water bodies in the region.
