Hon. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, has reiterated government’s unwavering commitment to restoring Ghana’s polluted water bodies and forest reserves through a coordinated, multi-pronged approach to combat illegal mining and environmental destruction.

Speaking during a courtesy call from officials of the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL), the Minister emphasized that restoring the country’s rivers and streams remains a top national priority.

Hon. Buah noted that the Ministry’s efforts are not just about enforcement, but about building public understanding of the impact of illegal mining on the nation’s water and forest systems.

“It is important that we all understand the work we are signing onto, and how we can collectively turn these brown waters back to blue,” he said.

“We know the levels of turbidity that are acceptable for treatment, and we also understand when the levels make it impossible for the Ghana Water Company to do its work. We share your concerns, and that is why we have not been sleeping.”

He explained that Ghana’s water crisis is directly linked to the destruction of forest reserves, which serve as the main source of the country’s freshwater systems. “Eighty percent of our water comes from the forests, and yet 44 percent of our pristine forest has been decimated”, he disclosed.

Hon. Buah also highlighted initiatives such as the “Tree for Life and reafforestation Project” and the deployment of “Blue Water Guards,” a specialized youth-led volunteer group protecting water bodies and forest belts.

Turning to technology, the Minister revealed that government has introduced geofencing and tracking devices for excavators to prevent their use in unauthorized areas.

“We are building a system where every excavator’s movement is monitored in real time. If an operator moves into a restricted area like a river, the system will automatically demobilize the machine,” he said, expressing confidence that such innovations will help restore the country’s rivers to their natural state.

In response, the Acting Managing Director for Ghana Water Company Limited, Hon. Adam Mutawakilu, commended the Ministry’s ongoing efforts, noting visible improvements in several river systems. “We are very grateful for this collaboration. Your efforts to clean the water bodies are yielding some results”.

However, he cautioned that while water clarity has improved, silt accumulation at GWCL’s intakes remains a major challenge.

He concluded by revealing that the Ghana Water Company will continue to work closely with the Ministry and development partners to find lasting solutions.

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