BIRIM RIVER DYING SLOWLY IS EPA, OKYEHENE AWARE?

The Birim River, the pride of AKYEM ABUAKWA STATE is under threat and risk of being dried up due to illegal gold mining activities and if conscious efforts were not made to save guide the source of this important river, which serves as a source of drinking water for a lot of towns and communities along its banks.

From Kibi in the East Akyem district, Nsutam Fanteakwa district, Anyinam,Kwabeng Atiwa district,Birim North and south districts, inhabitants risk various forms waterborne diseases by these illegal gold mining activities and faces serious future waters shortages if institutions like the Environmental Protection Agency EPA and the Okyehene’s NGO refused to stand up and rescue this river from these illegal miners. Reports from the area indicate that the bad state of the river has compelled inhabitants to rely on sachet water as their source drinking water.

The (EPA)is being accused of not protecting the interest of the people by enforcing its bye laws, which prohibits all forms of activities including mining within certain distance from the banks of rivers. According to the people,EPA has not organized any public forum to educate them on the possible effects of the mining operations in the area. ‘‘They have deny us the opportunity to expressed our concerns relating to water pollution and its health hazards’’.

These mining activities is carried out within the jurisdiction of the Okyehene,Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Pannin II a strong advocate for the protecting of the environment. The people are therefore calling on the okyenehene to use his good office to help save the Birim River from the nefarious activities of these gold miners.

The Birin River is suffering all kinds of degradations at a time when the Okyehene has established the only university for Agriculture and environmental studies to help boast Agriculture and protect the environment from degradation. Water samples collected from,Asikam,Segyemase,Asiakwa,Bunso where Okyenhe has a university for environment and Agriculture studies,Nsutam,Osino,Anyinam and other towns is brown in colour a departure from the colour of Brim known to the people from ages.Water borne diseases and its social-economic impact is the concern of all Ghanaians . Denying millions of people access to good drinking water for the sake of employment generation and development is unfortunate.

We are calling on all stakeholders to ensure that, development does not sacrifices the health of ultimate users of but strike a balance between development and the environment. Every organization is obliged under its social responsibility programme to enhance the living standard of the community it operates. It is also under obligation to ensure that their activities do not harm the people but protect them from any possible harm or danger that might be resulted from such operations. Based on these social and fundamental obligations the inhabitants are calling all stakeholders, including the regional and district co-ordinating councils, EPA and the overlord of the Akyem Abuakwa State, Osagyefou Amoatia Ofori Pannin II to save the Birim River before these illegal miners destroys it completely.