A Rocha Ghana has highlighted the growing threat to the Atewa Forest and the rivers that originate from it, warning that the degradation of the forest could have consequences for communities and livelihoods far beyond its boundaries.

In a new documentary by the environmental organisation, titled Gold Rush: Inside the Headwater Atewa, the Source Facing a Slow, Avoidable Death, was premiered as part of activities marking World Rivers Day on Sunday, September 27, 2026.

Atewa Forest is one of Ghana’s remaining upland evergreen forests and serves as the source of three major rivers the Ayensu, Densu and Birim which support communities, agriculture and livelihoods downstream.

According to A Rocha Ghana, the documentary follows the three rivers from their headwaters and examines the impact of illegal mining and other activities on the forest's waterways.

The organisation says the effects of pollution and environmental degradation in Atewa extend beyond the forest, reaching farms and communities that depend on the rivers.

At the centre of the documentary is what A Rocha Ghana describes as an increasingly difficult tension between gold and water.

While acknowledging that illegal mining can provide income and economic opportunities for some people, the organisation says mining in environmentally sensitive areas and around water sources can have consequences beyond individual mining sites.

Through the experiences of farmers and communities, Gold Rush explores how pollution can travel downstream, affecting agricultural activities, livelihoods and access to clean water.
A Rocha Ghana says the documentary is intended to draw public attention to the link between the protection of forests and the availability of reliable water resources.

“What happens in Atewa does not stay in Atewa,” the organisation said, stressing that forests play an important role in sustaining rivers, regulating water and supporting communities and ecosystems.

A Rocha Ghana is calling on the government and institutions responsible for forests, water resources, mining and environmental protection to make the protection of critical river sources and headwater ecosystems a national priority.

Among its demands is the designation of Atewa Forest as a National Park, alongside stronger protection for other critical headwater ecosystems across Ghana.

The organisation is also calling for intensified action against illegal mining in river catchments and environmentally sensitive areas.

It wants the Forestry Commission, Environmental Protection Authority, Water Resources Commission, Minerals Commission, security agencies and other relevant institutions to be adequately resourced to enforce environmental laws.

A Rocha Ghana further called for thorough investigations and prosecutions where environmental violations occur.

The organisation also wants greater emphasis placed on the protection and restoration of degraded riparian zones, wetlands, streams and river catchments as part of Ghana’s long-term water security efforts.

A Rocha Ghana says communities and traditional authorities living around forests and river catchments should be recognised as important partners in environmental protection.

It is calling for their knowledge, concerns and interests to be incorporated into efforts to protect forests and water resources, while sustainable livelihood opportunities are strengthened to reduce pressure on natural resources.

The organisation also argues that protecting Ghana’s rivers requires a coordinated approach involving government institutions, traditional authorities, communities, civil society organisations, businesses and citizens.

Although the documentary focuses on Atewa, A Rocha Ghana says the concerns it raises have implications for river systems across Ghana.

The organisation points to illegal mining, deforestation, unsustainable land use and degradation of riparian areas and wetlands as pressures facing rivers and their catchments.

It says efforts to protect rivers should therefore begin at their sources rather than only after pollution and degradation have reached the water bodies.

The documentary is being made available to the public and media organisations as part of the World Rivers Day commemoration.

A Rocha Ghana is inviting media houses to broadcast or feature the documentary as part of their programming on river conservation and environmental protection.

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