The Ghana Water Limited (GWL) has announced the shutdown of the Bonsa Headworks, which supplies 75% of potable water to the Tarkwa-Nsueam Municipality in the Western Region.
This decision, according to GWL, is due to the severe impact of illegal mining activities, commonly referred to as “galamsey,” on the Bonsa River, rendering it impossible to extract and treat water for distribution.
In a statement dated January 2, 2025, and signed by Wisdom Doe Akoto, the Tarkwa District Manager of GWL, the company noted that all efforts to curb the pollution caused by galamsey activities have proven unsuccessful, leaving no choice but to suspend operations at the facility.
GWL expressed concern over the persistent pollution and called on stakeholders, including local authorities and security agencies, to take decisive action to address the issue and restore the river’s quality.
“We have tried all that we could but to no avail, hence the shutdown. The river is still being monitored for acceptable parameters to enable us to restart production, and until then, the plant remains closed.
“We promise to update the public on any development with regard to the current situation,” he said.
This closure is expected to affect water supply to residents and industries in the municipality, further highlighting the devastating impact of illegal mining on essential resources.
The Bonsa Headworks Plant Manager, Paul Bawa, speaking to Citi News on the shutdown said the situation was necessary as the plant 1982 installed capacity of 1 million gallons per day had been reduced to just about 400,000 gallons per day due to the raw water pollution by “galamsey”.
“The installation capacity is 1 million gallons which is about 5,400 cubic metres but because of the problems over the years from when it was commissioned in 1982, the raw water quality deteriorated and now we are doing three thousand cubic metres which is far below what be doing and the activities have intensified so much that the water is just mud.
“The pumps cannot lift that much for us to pump, then we have to shut down. As at the shutdown we were doing between 1,800 to 2,000 cubic metres and finally, the thing cannot pump so we have to shut down,” he said.
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