Galamsey: Residents resort to sachet water as Tano River pollution worsens

Residents of Tanoso in the Tano North Municipality have raised concerns over the pollution of the Tano River by illegal mining activities, saying the contamination has compelled them to rely on sachet water for drinking and other household needs.

In interviews with the Ghana News Agency (GNA), residents appealed for immediate action to stop the destruction of the river, which has long served as the community’s primary source of water.

They explained that the river has become so polluted that it is no longer suitable for domestic use.

Mary Ewusi, a local trader, said the increasing dependence on sachet water has become financially difficult for many households.

“We can no longer afford to keep buying sachet water, and we urgently need help,” she said.

She described the level of pollution as worrying, adding that the once-clear river has now turned brown because of illegal mining activities.

“You can go and see for yourself that the Tano River has changed colour and become brownish,” she noted.

Another resident, Francis Seidu, also voiced concern over the situation and urged security agencies to strengthen patrols along the river to clamp down on illegal miners.

He claimed that some of the operators move around on motorbikes and appealed to the Tano North Municipal Security Committee to take steps to safeguard the river and ensure access to clean drinking water for residents.

Ophelia Badu, another resident, said the community had repeatedly complained about the issue but felt their concerns were being ignored.

“This is not the first time we’ve raised concerns, yet it appears no one is paying attention to the state of the river,” she said.