CAPPA, African Activists Urge Ghana to Stop Water Pollution from Illegal Mining
Princess-Ekwi Ajide
Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) and nine other rights groups across seven African nations have called on the Ghanaian government to immediately halt the pollution of water bodies, land, and aquatic life caused by illegal mining, known locally as galamsey.
In a statement by the Our Water Our Right Africa Coalition (OWORAC), the organizations expressed solidarity with Ghanaians protesting the harmful effects of galamsey, emphasizing that access to clean water is a basic human right.
They warned that the ongoing contamination threatens public health and destroys the livelihoods of those living near the affected water sources.
OWORAC urged the Ghanaian government to clean up polluted waters, enforce stricter mining regulations, and ensure sustainable practices.
The statement was signed by leaders from various African advocacy groups.
They highlighted the urgent need for action, especially as some rivers, once vital for communities, are now toxic, and the Ghana Water Company has been forced to shut down plants due to contamination.