The Chancellor of the University of Education, Winneba (UEW), Neenyi Ghartey VII, has renewed calls for intensified action against illegal miners, whose activities have severely polluted the River Ayensu, the main water source for the Agona Kwanyarko treatment plant.
The contamination has caused widespread water shortages across parts of the Central Region. Neenyi Ghartey VII made the remarks during UEW’s 30th Graduation Ceremony, which saw a total of 8,288 students graduate, ranging from diploma to doctorate levels.
Expressing deep concern, the Chancellor said the once clean Ayensu River—used for drinking, cooking, and irrigation—has now become “milky, toxic, and contaminated with mercury and cyanide” due to illegal mining.
He further condemned incidents where illegal miners have allegedly attacked state security personnel, describing the development as disturbing and unacceptable.
Neenyi Ghartey VII urged the government to equip the National Anti-Illegal Mining Taskforce (NAIMOS) with modern technology to strengthen the fight against galamsey nationwide.
The Central Regional Minister, Ekow Okyere Panyin, also appealed to academia to collaborate with the government in efforts to protect Ghana’s water bodies from further destruction.
Meanwhile, the Vice-Chancellor of UEW, Prof. Stephen Jobson Mitchual, echoed the call to safeguard the environment and additionally endorsed the use of Ghanaian languages at the primary level to improve foundational learning.
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