By Morkporkpor Anku
Accra, July 15, GNA – The Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) has committed GH¢8.4 million to rehabilitate three water supply systems damaged by illegal mining under an agreement signed with Ghana Water Limited (GWL).
The Water Infrastructure Rehabilitation Funding and Implementation Agreement will finance restoration works on the Bonsa, Daboase and Sekyere Heman water supply systems in the Western and Central regions, where siltation and pollution from illegal mining have disrupted water production.
Mr Sammy Gyamfi, Chief Executive Officer of GoldBod, said at the signing ceremony in Accra that the intervention formed part of the Board’s Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives and reflected its statutory mandate under the Ghana Gold Board Act, 2025 (Act 1140), to support environmental restoration.
He said joint technical assessments by GoldBod and Ghana Water Limited had identified severe siltation, channel instability and recurring intake blockages at six water supply systems affected by illegal mining, requiring urgent rehabilitation.
Mr Gyamfi said funding constraints had necessitated a phased implementation, with the Bonsa, Daboase and Sekyere Heman systems selected for the first phase.
He said the works would include hydrographic surveys, sediment volume assessments, dredging and sediment removal, lawful disposal of dredged materials, intake restoration, water quality monitoring, engineering supervision and infrastructure stabilisation.
Mr Gyamfi said GoldBod would monitor implementation of the project, while Ghana Water Limited would undertake the rehabilitation in accordance with the country’s procurement and environmental laws to ensure accountability and value for money.
Mr Adam Mutawakilu, Managing Director of Ghana Water Limited, described the funding as timely and said the company lacked the financial resources to rehabilitate the affected facilities independently.
He assured GoldBod that “the funds would be utilised prudently and strictly in line with the terms of the agreement to ensure the successful completion of the project.”
Mr Mutawakilu said the rehabilitation would improve the quality and reliability of potable water supply to communities in the Western and Central regions while helping to mitigate the impact of illegal mining on water infrastructure.
GNA
Edited by Kenneth Sackey
Reporter: Morkporkpor Anku
[email protected]