The Acting Chief Executive Officer of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Lawyer Edudzi Tamakloe, has revealed that Ghana spent almost $11 million on importing potable water in 2023 a situation he described as deeply alarming and symptomatic of the nation’s worsening environmental degradation.
Speaking in an interview on Accra-based Okay FM, monitored by Kumasi Mail Mr. Tamakloe said the country’s growing dependence on imported bottled and packaged water is a direct consequence of pollution caused by illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, and other environmentally harmful activities.
“Do you know that in 2023, imported water alone into Ghana cost almost 11 million dollars?” he asked. “Imagine if this amount had been invested into productive sectors of the economy instead.”
He called on traditional leaders, opinion leaders, and community influencers to take an active role in the fight against galamsey, warning that the country risks facing a full-blown water crisis if illegal mining continues unchecked.
The revelation by the NPA boss echoes earlier concerns raised by Economist and Finance Lecturer, Professor Godfred Bokpin, who cautioned that Ghana could spend even more on water imports in the coming years if water pollution persists.
Prof. Bokpin noted that the trend is already evident, with affluent Ghanaians increasingly opting for imported drinking water due to safety concerns.
“Those who can afford it are gravitating towards imported water because they no longer trust the quality of local sources,” he said. “If you visit some of our polluted rivers and see the state they’re in, you’d think twice before buying food or drinking water from certain areas.”
According to him, Togo, Nigeria, Spain, and the United Kingdom were among the leading sources of Ghana’s water imports last year.
Environmental experts have long warned that the destruction of Ghana’s river systems through illegal mining and poor waste management is fast eroding access to clean water — a threat that could undermine public health and national development if not urgently addressed.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
