An environmental policy advocate has sharply criticised Ghana’s pilot clean-up of the Birim River using ionic nanocopper technology, describing the initiative as wasteful and unsustainable if the government fails to tackle illegal mining, the main source of pollution.
The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) had disclosed that it spent about $200,000 from its internally generated funds to procure the technology, which can clean up to one kilometre of a flowing river, and described it as a potential game changer for restoring degraded water bodies.
“This would be the most unconscionable expenditure the state can make, even as they fail to address the fundamental drivers of galamsey,” said Daryl Bosu, deputy national director of A Rocha Ghana, in a Facebook post reacting to the programme.
“The state is getting it wrong and there is no way this can be considered sustainable. Let’s stop the waste,” he added.
EPA boss
Bosu’s comments follow an announcement by the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) that sections of the Birim River in the Eastern Region were showing early signs of improvement after a pilot clean-up using ionic nanocopper technology.
The EPA’s chief executive, Professor Nana Ama Browne Klutse, told JoyNews that the effects of the trial were already visible.
“We are currently applying the ionic nanocopper technology to the Birim River. Our goal is to start with Birim as a pilot project, then extend the approach to other water bodies,” she said.
She added: “We are already seeing the separation of water from mud. Within an hour, I’m confident this water will be safe for drinking. The results are very promising.”
About the project
Ionic nanocopper is used to chemically treat water contaminated with heavy metals, allowing polluted water to be cleaned more efficiently, according to the EPA.
The pilot intervention, focused on Kyebi Adukrom in the Abuakwa South Municipality, forms part of national efforts to combat pollution linked to illegal mining, known locally as galamsey.
“Ultimately, we want all our water bodies clean. We also aim to ensure that both legal and illegal miners treat their water before releasing it into rivers or onto land, protecting our environment and public health,” Klutse said.
The EPA boss also said the agency and its partners spent a year testing the technology and expressed hope that support from civil society organisations could help reduce water treatment costs for Ghana Water Limited.
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