Ghana government asked to protect water bodies from illegal miners

The government has been urged to take bold and drastic measures to tackle the destructive activities of illegal miners to protect the environment.

Mr Michael Awuah-Boateng, an environmentalist, asked the appropriate state institutions to get to work and find innovative ways to stop the recklessness and impunity.

He said the speed at which the nation is losing its forest cover and water bodies should be a huge worry to all because of the serious implications this could have on the economy.

Mr Awuah-Boateng, who is a member of the local NGO, Friends of Rivers and Water Bodies, who gave the advice in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, referred to the erratic rainfall pattern in recent times and said this was a signal to all to sit up.

The relevant laws on the environment must be rigidly enforced to restore some level of sanity to prevent imminent dry-up of major rivers and streams, he said.

He noted that the country stand to reap tremendous benefits if it ensures efficient management of the forest and its resources, citing the opportunity for tourism and recreation.

Mr Awuah-Boateng condemned the irresponsibility of people, who build on waterways and asked that they should take a second look at their actions, adding that the cost could be too much for everybody.

Source: GNA