The Eastern Regional Minister, Rita Akosua Awatey has emphasised the determination of the regional security council to secure water bodies and provide clean water sources to the Ghana Water Company Limited for treatment for public consumption.

Due to the government's resolve to protect these water sources and forest covers, the security council has begun clamping down on illegal mining in the region.

The exercise has been intensified with the seizure of mining equipment, including excavators and washing machines.

"We are poised to keeping our water clean so that GWCL will not struggle to have clean water to produce for us," the minister said, explaining that "As result, we formed a taskforce to lead the clampdown exercise and I can assure you that we've been able to impound more than 10 excavators belonging to illegal miners in less than a week and trust me, we'll ensure that these miners are made to face the law."

Rita Akosua Awatey disclosed this when she paid a working visit to the regional office of the GWCL and some facilities that supply water to the Koforidua metropolis.

She commended the management and staff of the GWCL for their dedication to supplying potable water to residents while calling for stronger collaboration between the company and the Regional Coordinating Council.

She also challenged management to make the supply of water more accessible, reliable and to enhance the quality of the product.

Her visit took her to the Densuano old water works, the filter house which treats raw water from the Densu river, Spring Water from Okume and Suhyen mountains and ended her visit at the Bukunor Plant.

On his part, Ing. Paul Akpanya, the Eastern Regional Chief Manager of the GWCL expressed the appreciation of Management and staff for the minister's visit.

He spoke of the operations of the company and briefed the minister about efforts to increase the volume of water produced by the Nsawam Water Treatment Plant, as well as efforts to supply water to the new Somanya Government Hospital and its environs, directly from the Akorley Booster Station.