As we mark World Water Day, this is the State of our forest reverses. 

As you read this, our beautiful and major water sources of the county such as Ankobra, Bia, Birim, Densu, Pra and Offin were once upon a time the pride of the country and a joy to taste and behold, have been highly polluted due to galamsey. Many of these rivers have serious levels of pollutants; heavy metals and turbidity levels beyond acceptable limits.

Water sources for entire communities  have been contaminated leading to a host of health issues, including skin diseases, respiratory problems, and even fatalities due to long-term exposure to toxins. Babies are being born with all kinds of illnesses in these communities.

The International Water Management Institute reports that 70% of the diseases are caused by unsafe water. In fact, during a national dialogue on the activities of illegal miners and their effects on society, the CEO of the Minerals Commission said without equivocation that he cannot vouch for the safety of water running through our taps. Can you today confidently consume water from your pipes?

Recent statistics from the Water Resource Commission reveal a significant decline in the quality of the nation’s water resources, plummeting from 86 percent to 58.8 percent.

We have on our hand an existential threat that has serious national security implications. From security to health to education, almost every facet of our national life. 

Further, the destruction of forest reserves exacerbates the effects of climate change, jeopardizing Ghana's efforts to mitigate its carbon footprint and maintain ecological balance. Forests act as vital carbon sinks, absorbing CO2 emissions and regulating local climates. Galamsey has removed our clothing and rendered us naked and at the whim of the winds.

As we celebrate this day, we must remember this thought-provoking quote from Luna Leopold, a U.S. geomorphologist and hydrologist, “Water is the most critical resource issue of our lifetime and our children’s lifetime. The health of our water is the principal measure of how we live on the land,”.

We therefore as citizens must not sit aloof and allow a few greedy people to line their pockets and leave us to starvation and thirst for water. Let's keep the advocacy alive!

Writer: Eugene Osei-Tutu, postgraduate degree in Energy and Sustainable Management and currently works as the producer for talk-programmes at Luv FM, a radio broadcasting subsidiary of the Multimedia Group Limited.