Elikem Kotoko, Deputy CEO of the Forestry Commission, has said that Ghana is rapidly approaching a water importation crisis unless immediate action is taken to curb the country’s illegal mining (galamsey) activities.
In an exclusive interview with Kwaku Owusu Adjei on Adwenekasa on Original TV, Elikem Kotoko discussed the devastating environmental and health repercussions of the ongoing galamsey menace, which he says is pushing the country to the brink of a serious water shortage.
Kotoko outlined the alarming extent to which illegal mining is polluting Ghana’s water bodies, particularly the country’s major rivers, many of which have become toxic due to mining chemicals like mercury and cyanide.
“The situation is dire. If we do not take swift and decisive action to stop illegal mining, we are heading towards a scenario where we might have to import water into the country,” Kotoko warned. “We cannot afford to let this continue.”
Elikem Kotoko stated that since assuming office, his team has been working diligently to combat illegal mining (galamsey) across Ghana.
He further emphasized the need for support from Ghanaians to ensure the success of their efforts in fighting galamsey.
The Deputy CEO stressed that the situation is not just an environmental issue but one of public health and national security.
“We are committed to ending illegal mining, but we need all stakeholders—government agencies, civil society, and the private sector—to come together and work on solutions. The time for half-measures is over; this is a national emergency,” Kotoko added.
The Forestry Commission, in collaboration with the government and other agencies, has ramped up efforts to combat illegal mining, but Kotoko expressed concern that without broader cooperation and stricter enforcement of laws, the country may soon be facing an irreversible water crisis.
The contamination of these rivers by galamsey activities has made it increasingly difficult for the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) to provide clean and safe drinking water to millions of Ghanaians.
