About the Speaker
Prof. Agyei-Mensah, FGA
Professor of
Ghana is unlikely to meet SDG 6 by 2030, particularly targets 6.1 and 6.3 which focus on universal access to safe and affordable drinking water and improving water quality, respectively. Prof. Samuel Agyei-Mensah, FGA, raised this concern during his inaugural lecture on the topic, “Flavours of Spatial Diversity in Drinking Water Access in Ghana,” held on October 17, 2024, at the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences (GAAS) in Accra.
He attributes Ghana’s inability to meet SDG6 to illegal mining (galamsey) activities which introduce harmful contaminants like mercury and cyanide into rivers and other water sources, severely compromising raw water quality. Consequently, Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) must use greater quantities of chemicals to attempt to meet safe drinking water standards. Unfortunately, as contamination worsens, even advanced purification processes may fail to remove all pollutants, resulting in water that remains unsafe for consumption.
Pollution of water bodies he noted, has increased the dependency on sachet water, particularly in mining-affected areas, where inhabitants no longer feel safe drinking from streams and river bodies. Prof. Agyei-Mensah cautioned against viewing sachet water as a sustainable solution, stating that it merely serves as a temporary relief and does not fulfill the objective of universal access to safe and affordable drinking water.
Beyond illegal mining, Ghana’s rapidly growing population and expanding urban areas continue to put pressure on the country’s water supply. Unplanned developments often arise without proper water connections, putting additional strain on GWCL, which is already struggling to meet demand. In many areas, water pipes that date back to the colonial period have yet to be replaced. Such aged and deteriorated infrastructure adds another layer of complexity to Ghana’s water issues.
He also expressed concerns about the prevalent use of boreholes in Southern and Northern Ghana for water supply, emphasizing the need for stricter oversight to guarantee the quality of water drawn from such sources. “While borehole water is widely used across the country, it is essential that we implement rigorous standards to ensure its safety,” he stressed.
He emphasized the marked variations in water availability that could be missed by a one-dimensional method of evaluating water access. His multi-scale spatial approach offers a deeper understanding of drinking water access, which is essential for developing effective policies and implementing targeted interventions. He illustrated how examining water availability at four geographical levels, namely, District level, Greater Metropolitan level, Neighborhood level and Enumeration level, provides a more comprehensive view of the difficulties encountered by various communities.
To tackle the challenge of unsafe drinking water, Prof. Agyei-Mensah proposed convening a national summit that would bring together various stakeholders, including government representatives, academics, civil society organizations (CSOs), and development partners, to create a comprehensive strategy for providing safe and affordable water access nationwide.
Prof. Joseph R.A. Ayee, FGA, Vice President of the Arts Section of GAAS, who chaired the lecture, bemoaned the fact that illegal mining activities, referred to as galamsey, had already contaminated nearly 80% of Ghana’s water. He commended Prof. Agyei-Mensah for his proposed solution to Ghana’s water access problems.
The lecture ties in with GAAS’s views on the severe consequences of galamsey, for Ghana’s environment, human life, and water resources. In December 2023, GAAS took a strong stance by calling for the revocation of Legislative Instrument 2462, and for stricter policies and robust enforcement measures to combat illegal mining in Ghana. On 25th September, 2024, the Academy again released a statement calling for immediate measures to stop illegal mining in forest reserves and water bodies.
As a leading institution committed to advancing Science and Arts, GAAS plays a crucial advisory role in addressing pressing national issues such as illegal mining. Through its research, public lectures, and policy recommendations, the Academy seeks to inform and shape public policy to protect Ghana’s environment, health, and natural resources.
