Cost of treating water up from ¢7000 per day to ¢80,000 due to galamsey – Akufo-Addo

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has stated that the cost of water treatment for the Ghana Water Company Limited(GWCL) has increased from ¢7000 to ¢80,000 per day due to illegal mining.

He said this on Monday, 17 October at Konongo in the Ashanti Region as part of his tour of the region.

Mr Akufo-Addo expressed concern about the negative impact of illegal mining also known as galamsey on the country’s water sources.

“I am particularly concerned about the danger to the water source, because for instance [in Konongo], because of the galamsey phenomenon the cost of production of water by the GWCL has gone up from 7000 Cedis per day to now, 80,000 Cedis per day.”

The President stressed that this means that the fight against galamsey should be boosted through cooperation.

“It is clear that we all have to cooperate to put a stop to this galamsey menace,” he urged.

He had earlier said his government’s effort against this menace is unparalleled when he paid homage to the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II on Sunday, 16 October.

“No government has shown commitment to the fight against galamsey than my government,” he stressed.

The President also assured the Asantehene of his government’s determination to bring an end to the menace, noting that as a result of the attention the government had devoted to the fight against the canker, the issue had become a topical one, with everyone talking about it.

He expressed delight at the way galamsey had become a topic for discussion.

President Akufo-Addo is on a four-day tour of the Ashanti Region to inspect some projects being undertaken by his government.

He is expected to visit the Boankra integrated logistics terminal, also known as the Boankra Inland Port, and inspect the progress of work.

He will also inspect Agenda 111 project at Kokoben.