Convener of the Coalition Against Illegal Mining, Ken Ashigbey, has called for the application of the “polluter pays” principle in response to the Ghana Water Company Limited’s (GWCL) proposal for a 280% increase in water tariffs.

Speaking on Joy FM’s Newsnight, Mr. Ashigbey argued that the proposed adjustment should not be applied uniformly across the country.

Instead, he said, the tariff hikes must be targeted at areas where illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, has severely polluted water bodies and driven up purification costs.

Mr. Ashigbey explained that such a targeted approach would promote accountability, compel communities to take ownership of their environment, and deter harmful mining practices.

The Ghana Water Company Limited last week proposed the 280% upward adjustment, attributing the request to the rising costs of treatment chemicals, frequent damage to equipment, and operational challenges caused by the heavy pollution of water sources by galamsey.

The Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) is currently reviewing the proposal alongside other utility submissions as part of the 2025–2030 tariff determination process.