Bolgatanga, March 19, – The Water Resources Commission has warned that human activities, including illegal mining, sand winning, deforestation, and unsustainable farming, are threatening groundwater quality and availability in the White Volta Basin. Millions of residents risk losing access to safe water if urgent interventions are not implemented.
Mr. Jesse Kazapoe, Head of the White Volta Basin at WRC, explained that around 80 percent of the Basin’s population—approximately 3.5 to 4 million people—rely on groundwater for daily needs. He stressed that contamination from deep excavation in mining operations, sediment from sand winning, agrochemical runoff, and poor waste disposal are undermining water security.
“The high sediment levels in rivers force treatment plants to use more chemicals and divert up to 30 percent of treated water for system cleaning, reducing household supply,” Mr. Kazapoe said. He also highlighted that deforestation and unregulated boreholes are compounding the problem.
The WRC is promoting interventions such as catchment protection near the Vea Dam, greywater recycling in schools, and community education to safeguard resources. The efforts form part of the Blue Deal Project, a 12-year initiative supported by the Dutch Water Authorities aiming to enhance water governance and provide clean water access for over 20 million people globally by 2030.
Dr. Justice Aduko, Blue Deal Manager for the Basin, stressed that water protection is a shared responsibility and called for collective action by communities, authorities, and stakeholders.
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