The Chief Basin Officer at Water Resources Commission, Dr.Ronald Abraham, has called for relocation of Nsawam Lorry station and market for re-engineering and protection of the Densu river environment from pollution.
The Densu river is under serious threat from human activities in Nsawam and its environs.
Fecal matter from a public toilet facility near the river in the town is secretly discharged into the river whilst leachate from landfill at Fotobi community also contaminating the river.
Speaking at stakeholders meeting organized by Nsawam based none governmental organization, Ark Development Organization (ADO) on the high level of pollution threatening quality and sustainability of the river Dr. Ronald Abraham said the Densu river must be protected to continuously serve millions of Ghanaian population.
“Our forefathers when they were very limited number,set up their communities around water bodies .But it is about time as our population grows rapidly around here we give the water bodies space. So we must be happy to find space to relocate the market we should also find space to relocate the lorry station and any other activity around there. People are running toile facilities should be asked to take them off because what they do repeatedly is to pump the fecal matter into the stream but as u said earlier nature absorbs all these kind of things and by the time the river gets to Weija lake ,it is clean”
The Executive Director of Ark Development Organization, Emmanuel Kwarfo Minta said the NGO has since 2010 been embarking on advocacy for the need to curb the growing pollution of river Densu but little has been done.
He emphasized the river has suffered serious pollution in recent years, resulting in discoloration of the river rendering it unsafe for direct consumption without treatment.
“A cursory tour along the river revealed some sources of the water pollution. Among them were the Landfill site at Fotobi, domestic and institutional sewage discharges channeled into the river, scrap depots sited close to the river, and overflow of refuse from refuse containers finding their way into the river. Apart from direct dumping of refuse in the river, toxic substances are washed from aforementioned places into the river when it rains”
He continued that ” Since then, the organization has been monitoring the situation and has seen the need for timely actions to avert a major disaster which might come in the form of disease outbreak or water crisis. In conclusion, we are appealing to the duty bearers to take immediate actions to restore the Densu River to its past glory so as to make it pure for human consumption.So we thank the National Lottery Authority (NLA) for sponsoring this project”.
Minta Kwarfo stressed safe drinking water has connection with achievement of many of the sustainable development goals hence the need to pay critical attention to protect fresh water bodies in the country.
Mr. Emmanuel Minta therefore said Ark Development Organization is implementing “Soccer for Sanitation Change ” project which seeks to bring the youth and community leaders together to protect rivers in the area through awareness and behavioral change.
A committee has been formed in the regard.
Source: Mybrytfmnewroom.com/Obed Ansah
