The Kibi Water Treatment Plant in the Eastern Region has remained shut since August 2026 due to extremely high turbidity levels in the Birim River, which serves as the plant’s main source of raw water.
Member of Parliament for Abuakwa South, Dr. Kingsley Agyemang, disclosed this after a working visit to the Birim River with the District Manager of the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL), Kibi.
According to the MP, the average turbidity of the Birim River has risen to approximately 50,000 NTU, a level he attributed to the impact of illegal mining activities along the river.
Dr. Agyemang said the situation has severely affected water treatment operations and the supply of potable water to communities that depend on the plant.
Although the plant has experienced intermittent shutdowns over the past decade because of illegal mining and the resulting deterioration in raw water quality, the current shutdown has persisted since August.
“Standing beside the muddy waters, I witnessed the troubling state of a river that has sustained our communities for generations,” Dr. Agyemang said.
He warned that the continued destruction of the Birim River threatens access to clean water and is placing an increasing burden on residents.
The MP announced plans to embark on a live media tour of galamsey sites across the constituency to highlight the extent of environmental degradation and push for accountability.
He is calling for urgent and coordinated measures to halt illegal mining activities, protect the Birim River and restore the water treatment plant to full operation.
“The Birim is our lifeline. We cannot afford to lose it,” he said.
The prolonged disruption has raised concerns over the impact of illegal mining on water security in communities served by the Kibi Water Treatment Plant.
Source:Mybrytfmonline.com
