The Chief Executive Officer of the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), Nana Ama Brown Klutse, has revealed that an estimated $35 million will be required to completely restore the Birim River, which has been severely polluted by illegal mining activities.

Prof Klutse disclosed this in an interview during a pilot application of ionic nano copper technology at Kyebi-Adukrom in the Eastern Region on Tuesday, February 24, 2026.

She explained that while the pilot intervention has already produced visible improvements in treated sections of the river, extending the technology across the entire length of the Birim River would require significant financial investment.

According to her, it costs approximately $200,000 to procure enough ionic nano copper technology to clean one kilometre of a flowing river. Given that the Birim River spans about 175 kilometres, she said the total cost of restoration is estimated at $35 million.

“It took us about $200,000 to procure an amount that will clean one kilometre of every flowing river body. The Birim River is about 175 kilometres, so you can do the mathematics, we are talking about $35 million,” she stated in an interview with Accra-based Chanel One TV.

Prof Klutse noted that although the pilot project has delivered promising results within a short period, sustained funding will be critical to restoring the river to acceptable environmental standards.

The Birim River has suffered extensive degradation in recent years due to illegal mining, resulting in poor water quality, damage to aquatic ecosystems, and reduced access to safe water for communities along its banks.

She added that the use of ionic nano copper technology forms part of a broader national strategy to rehabilitate polluted water bodies and strengthen long-term water resource management across the country.