The Birim River in Ghana's Akyem Abuakwa area is facing a severe environmental crisis due to intensified illegal mining activities. The river's turbidity levels have reportedly reached 50,000 NTU, posing a significant threat to access to safe drinking water for communities that depend on the river. Member of Parliament for Abuakwa South, Dr. Kingsley Agyemang, has expressed concerns over the alarming deterioration of the river's water quality.
Dr. Agyemang made the disclosure after inspecting sections of the Birim River with the District Manager of the Ghana Water Company Limited in Kibi. The inspection aimed to assess the impact of illegal mining on the water body and the treatment facility. The shutdown of the Ghana Water Company Limited's treatment plant in Kibi, which has been out of operation since August 2025, has compounded the situation.
The extent of pollution in the Birim River has reached a level that could have serious consequences for thousands of residents, particularly vulnerable households that rely on the river for their daily needs. Dr. Agyemang emphasized that the Birim River is the lifeline of the community and that they cannot afford to lose it. He has begun a live media tour of illegal mining sites across the Abuakwa South Constituency to expose the scale of environmental degradation.
The media tour, conducted with security agencies and local opinion leaders, aims to push for accountability from individuals and groups responsible for the destruction of the river and surrounding environment. Dr. Agyemang is calling for urgent, coordinated action to halt illegal mining, protect the Birim River, and create the conditions needed to restore water treatment operations.
The MP warned that continued degradation of the river would not only deepen the current water crisis but could leave future generations with a severely damaged natural resource. Dr. Agyemang believes that bringing the devastation into the public spotlight will increase pressure on authorities to intensify efforts to tackle illegal mining and restore polluted water bodies across the area.
The Birim River's pollution is a complex issue that requires a comprehensive solution. The Ghana Water Company Limited's treatment plant in Kibi has been shut down since August 2025, exacerbating the water crisis in the area. Dr. Agyemang's efforts to expose the scale of environmental degradation and push for accountability from those responsible for the destruction of the river are ongoing.
The issue of illegal mining in Ghana is a national challenge that requires a coordinated approach to address. The government's efforts to tackle illegal mining and restore polluted water bodies are ongoing, but more needs to be done to address the root causes of the problem and ensure that communities have access to safe drinking water.
Key points
- The Birim River's turbidity has reached 50,000 NTU due to illegal mining activities.
- The shutdown of the Ghana Water Company Limited's treatment plant in Kibi has worsened the water crisis in the area.
- Dr. Kingsley Agyemang is calling for urgent action to halt illegal mining and restore the Birim River.
