A senior academic from the University of Education, Winneba (UEW) has expressed reservations about the scientific credibility of the Environmental Protection Authority’s (EPA) newly piloted Nano Copper water purification technology.

The concerns come in the wake of a demonstration carried out on February 24 at the Birim River at Kyebi Adukrom, where the EPA showcased a pollution-control intervention aimed at tackling contamination caused by illegal mining.

The Birim River, like many water bodies affected by galamsey activities, has been heavily silted and contaminated with traces of heavy metals.

During the pilot exercise, visibly muddy water was treated and appeared clearer after the Nano Copper solution was applied.

Despite the visual results, questions have been raised about whether the intervention effectively removes toxic substances from the water or merely alters its appearance. Critics argue that clarity alone does not guarantee the elimination of hazardous contaminants.

Speaking on Citi FM on Thursday, February 26, Dr Expor Anyimah-Ackah, a lecturer with UEW’s Department of Food and Nutrition, cautioned that aesthetic improvement does not necessarily translate into chemical safety.

“Did you have the capacity to assess the water quality that they [EPA] showed? What they showed is just aesthetics.

"To date, the FDA has not made a public disclosure of the nature of the nano material they are using so that the scientific community can engage with them and give them proper feedback.

“If the water colour has changed, it doesn’t mean that the heavy metals have disappeared in the water. For example, you could flocculate and sediment the heavy metals, and they will be settling at the bottom of the water body, acting as a secondary source of pollution.”

He suggested that while the treatment may cause suspended particles to bind together and settle — a process known as flocculation — harmful heavy metals could remain within the ecosystem, accumulating in river sediments and potentially resurfacing later.