The Member of Parliament for Abuakwa South Constituency in the Eastern Region, Dr. Kingsley Agyemang, has issued a passionate and urgent appeal to nat
The Member of Parliament for Abuakwa South Constituency in the Eastern Region, Dr. Kingsley Agyemang, has issued a passionate and urgent appeal to national authorities and community leaders to take decisive action against illegal mining, locally known as galamsey, which has rendered the Birim River—once the main source of potable water for the Kyebi township—dangerously polluted and virtually lifeless.
In a statement titled “A Cry for Our Birim River and Our People: The Time to End Galamsey in Abuakwa South is Now”, the MP expressed deep frustration and sorrow over the worsening state of environmental degradation caused by illegal miners in the area.
He revealed that the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) has been unable to operate the Kyebi Water Treatment Plant for over three months due to the river’s contamination.
“The Birim River, once the pride and lifeline of our people, has turned into a thick sludge of poison,” Dr. Agyemang lamented. “Its turbidity now stands at 64,000 NTU, a level so dangerously high that the water is untreatable and unsafe for human use.”
Thousands Without Water
The closure of the water treatment plant has left thousands of residents in Kyebi and surrounding communities without clean drinking water—a crisis that has persisted for over three months.
Residents are now forced to depend on unsafe alternative sources or expensive water deliveries.
Dr. Agyemang described the situation as “a matter of life and death,” warning that the collapse of the Birim River is crippling livelihoods, threatening food security, and endangering public health.
Foreign Involvement And Rising Insecurity
The MP further alleged that many of those engaging in illegal mining in the municipality are foreign nationals from neighbouring countries.
He said their activities are not only destroying the environment but also fueling rising incidents of crime, drug abuse, and social instability within Abuakwa South.
“Their actions are undermining the peace, safety, and moral fabric of our society,” he said. “We are witnessing a surge in criminal activities and social decay as a result.”
A Broader Crisis Beyond Water
According to Dr. Agyemang, the impact of galamsey goes far beyond polluted water. It has poisoned farmlands, reduced cocoa yields, and posed serious health risks to residents.
The illegal mining menace, he warned, is robbing children of education and threatening the economic future of the municipality.
“When our rivers are dead, our farms unproductive, and our schools empty, we lose not only our livelihood but also our future,” he said.
Call for Law Enforcement And Institutional Action
The MP called for a coordinated and forceful response from all institutions within the criminal justice system, including the Police Service, the Prosecution Department, the Judiciary, and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
He urged that the law be applied “without fear or favour” to both local and foreign perpetrators, stressing that those profiting from environmental destruction must face severe consequences.
Commendation And a Warning Against Complacency
Dr. Agyemang commended the Abuakwa South Municipal Assembly and local security agencies for their recent operations against illegal miners but cautioned that such efforts must not become a “nine-day wonder.”
“True success will not be in press briefings or temporary raids,” he emphasized, “but in the restoration of clean water, the return of our farmlands, and the rejuvenation of our communities.”
A Collective Call to Action
The MP appealed to traditional rulers, youth groups, opinion leaders, churches, and all citizens of conscience to rise and take part in the fight against galamsey.
He stressed that the campaign is not political but a moral and existential struggle for survival.
“We are fighting for our children and generations yet unborn. The Birim River must live again. For without water, there is no life, and without life, there is no future,” he concluded.
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