World Water Day 2019 Report: Ankobra River Still Polluted With Cancer Causing Chemicals

The Ankobra river has lost her intrinsic ability to provide ecological resources like shelter, food and recreation to adjacent communities due to the high load of toxic chemicals released during illegal mining.Traces of harmful heavy metals present in river bed threatens groundwater quality and marine ecology. Surprisingly, mainstream media reportage on the effectiveness of restoration strategies is devoid of scientific assessment.Consequently, the turbidity of the Ankobra river has been compromised since the return of illegal mining along the river course upstream. The level of contamination in the Ankobra river is underrated thereby exposing residents to hazardous chemicals present in the Ankobra.

Silt from illegal mining sites upstream render Ankobra river lifeless

While we have beautiful recreational sites like Aqua Safari, Royal Senchi and Holy Trinity Spa on the Volta river, the two biologically diverse rivers in the Western Region, Pra and Ankobra, are being used as 'GalamseySafaris'. On 22nd March 2019, Ghana Environmental Community marked World Water Day at Ankobra to sensitise the community on the need to protect the Ankobra river. Over 200 inhabitants were engaged under the theme "Leaving No One Behind". The indigents bemoaned the lack of proper monitoring of illegal mining 'Galamsey' upstream. The history of occurrences leading to the lifeless state of the Ankobra was brilliantly outlined by Maame Gyaago, a 65 year old fishmonger in an interactive session on World Water Day.

She explained in Nzema; "the level of pollution in the Ankobra river has reduced freshwater fish regeneration and caused marine species to recede". This observation was underscored by the chief fisherman of Ankobra, Agya Kwamena, who confirmed the decline of fish stock in the freshwater, estuary and ocean.

Maame Gyaago explaining how pollution affects fish population in the Ankobra river In terms of sanitation and healthcare accessibility, female participants from Ankobra Catholic Junior High School called out the lack of toilet facilities in the area. The tongue-in-cheek response to 'how do you answer nature's call?' was typical of a coastal community. They subtly admitted to 'free range' open defecation and possible contamination of surface and groundwater in the coastal community.

Our menstrual hygiene engagement leads, Selma Orleans -Boham and Suzette Sey admonished the young girls on the need to adhere to appropriate menstrual hygiene standards and promised to initiate a campaign to provide sanitary towels and hand cleaning items for their personal use.

Menstrual hygiene and sanitation engagement session

The health risks associated with exposure to mercury, arsenic and cyanide is irreversible. Regardless of your location in Ghana, the fish you consume may be poisoned by these discharge from illegal mining sites in across the country.