The former Managing Director of Ghana Water Limited, Dr. Clifford Braimah, has warned that Ghana is on the verge of a serious water crisis unless we quickly act to protect our rivers and streams.
He explained that our national water security faces a massive threat from the toxic metals currently poisoning our supply.
While many people point fingers at illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, Dr. Braimah clarified that “galamsey” isn’t the only culprit.
He believes our daily habits and poor waste management play an even bigger role in this environmental disaster.
Dr. Braimah warned that without stricter rules and better enforcement, these everyday actions will eventually leave the country without clean water to drink.
“It is true that we will soon risk running out of water. I keep on repeating that some of the heavy metals we find in our water do not necessarily come from galamsey. There are a lot of activities that are dangerous if we don’t improve.”
He further highlighted how common businesses, such as auto repair shops, contribute to the problem. When mechanics or electricians dump waste onto the ground, rain washes those dangerous chemicals directly into our water sources.
To save our future, he insists that we must protect the land surrounding our water bodies.
“You go everywhere, and you see mechanics, electricians, etc., and they get everything out there and poorly dispose them off and when it rains, the heavy metals seep into our water system. So one critical thing is to clear our catchment areas.”
