How Illegal Mining Affecting River Bodies And Communities

The River Bankoro which is one of the rivers in the Ashanti Region that serves as many as ten communities along the river banks has been damaged by the illegal mining activities in Bosome Freho district of the Ashanti Region.

Against this backdrop Fox news reporter Isaac Nsiah Foster was deployed to one of the affected communities called Temeabu in the Ejisu Municipality of the Ashanti region, to ascertain the truth and upon arrival, Foster reported that the threat posed by illegal mining (Galamsey), to the quality water resources in the area has become a major public concern due to the lack of quality water supply.

The report was aimed at investigating serious pollution in River Bankoro due to the illegal mining (Galamsey) activities.

According to Fox FM Isaac Nsiah Foster's report, the amount of chemicals found in the River Bankoro ranges of the serious poisonous chemicals that exceeded the safe drinking water guidelines making water generally unsafe for drinking and domestic purposes.

Among the communities that use River Bankoro as their source of drinking water include Amoadu, Asensuaso, Bankoroso, Boaman- Dumasi among others.

Some of the residents at Temeabu speaking to Isaac Nsiah Foster on Fox Morning Drive (FMD) hosted by Kwaku Kyeremateng Nkansah aka KK, disclosed some of their neighbours at the other communities along the River Bankoro bank would have to walk in miles distance to fetch water at Temeabu were some missionaries have to construct two borehole pipes for the community. 

" We have to pay for Twenty Ghana Cedis (GHc 20. 00 ) for transportation fee else one can't go to his destination otherwise you have to walk in four (4) miles distance to get to your destination, however, Aboboyaa try-motor car is the only medium in the area used in the transportation of passengers as well as farm products.

Children aged between 5 and 14 also walk in the same distance to fetch at Temeabu, which is somehow affecting their learning.

The Odikro of Temeabu Nana Kwadwo Adu also expressed his disappointment in the Municipal Chief Executive ( MCE) Madam Beatrice Serwaah Derkye for failure to attend to their water, poor road network and electricity power challenges after reported several to her.

According to Odikro Nana Kwadwo Adu the Temeabu community has been already wired left with only an electricity power plant but time now the project has been abandoned.

" We are very grateful for your concerns and report on our challenges, so far after your report, some missionaries have come to our aid" Odikro Nana Kwadwo Adu hinted.

" Most of our residents are Cocoa, Rice, Maize Plantain Cassava Farmers that produce large quantities of these farm products, meanwhile we are lacking behind in terms of road networks, electricity power and quality water supply can you imagine" Odikro Nana Kwadwo Adu disclosed.

After the live radio report by Isaac Nsiah Foster on Fox Morning Drive (FMD), a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) called Kumasi Ministers Fellowship went to Temeabu community promise to construct a mechanised borehole to be serving the affected communities along the River Bankoro banks.

According to the General Secretary of the Kumasi Ministers Fellowship Rev. Nicolas Awuah Sarpong, it is the social responsibility of their organization to help the needy communities as men of God, therefore after listening to Fox FM Isaac Nsiah Foster's live report there was the need for the organization to embark on such in order to ease some sort of water challenges facing the affected communities along the River Bankoro banks.

By Isaac Nsiah Foster