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Surge in cost of water treatment …due to ‘galamsey’ activities

Amidu Musah

Amidu Musah

 The cost of water treatment and production has shot up lately due to the impact of ‘galamsey’ activities on Ghana’s water bodies, the Tema Re­gional Chief Manager of the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL), Amidu Musah, has hinted.

According to him, the cost of chem­icals for treating water has gone up because the GWCL is forced to use more expensive and potent chemicals like Polymer instead of Alum to treat the raw water.

This, he said, was as a result of the impact of illegal mining activities around the water bodies.

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The activities of these ‘galamseyers’, he noted have become rampant and was of the view that if nothing was done about it, water would soon become a very expensive commodity.

MrMusah made the disclosure last Fri­day in Tema on the observation of World Water Day.

The event was held in Tema by the Tema Regional Office for the GWCL, hav­ing in attendance school children who were schooled on the need to preserve the country’s water bodies.

It was under the theme ‘leveraging water for peace’.

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Addressing the participants at the event, MrMusah, admitted that ‘galam­sey’ and sand winning operations have negatively have an impact on freshwater resources.

“The final consumer, which includes you and me as well as our industry, is ultimately affected by the activities of these miners because it has conse­quences on our health and finances,” he disclosed.

According to him, it was important for the respective bodies to come out with pragmatic and collaborative measures, and actions on a variety of fronts to maintain or improve the quality of water from the sources.

“The purpose of World Water Day is to inspire action. We are all now ac­countable for this. On this day, let us all promise to contribute to the solution. Let’s raise awareness on the value of water conservation among ourselves and others,” he said.

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The Regional Chief Manager called for support to assist groups devoted to sustainable water management by using the power of collaboration of everyone to help improve the situation.

He also called for a more responsible use of water for both domestic and com­mercial activities and prompt payment of water bills to help the GWCL to con­tinue to serve their clients, noting that life will definitely be more difficult if the public cannot get access to potable water in the home.

Sharing her thoughts about the event, a 16-year-old pupil, Edem Caroline Gor­vina expressed worry about the health and future of Ghanaian children because in her view, there appears to be no end in sight for the destruction of the coun­try’s water bodies through ‘galamsey’ activities.

The young pupil who is the Girls’ Prefect of the Republic Road Junior High School (JHS) said she was convinced that much work has not been done to protect the water bodies in the various commu­nities where ‘galamsey’ is prevalent.

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“We must stop them from destroying our water bodies,” she said without mincing words as she expressed fear that the country might soon find itself in a situation where there would not be safe water for the citizenry.

The final year student said it was wor­rying that there was a lot of information on the illegal activities of miners but very little was being done to curb the practice.

“Seriously, I feel we are losing the war on ‘galamsey’, that is, if we have not lost already. It appears we have become helpless and have given up on these peo­ple endangering our future,” she added.

The event brought together pupils from some schools from the Tema Me­tropolis namely the Pentecost School, Mante-Din School and the Republic Road School.

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From Dzifa Tetteh Tay, Tema

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High Court issues bench warrant for disputed Akwatia MP following contempt conviction

A Koforidua High Court has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of Ernest Yaw Kumi, the presumed winner of the Akwatia parliamentary seat in the Eastern region, after convicting him of contempt of court.

The court issued the bench warrant for Kumi’s arrest after he failed to attend court.

The conviction comes after he disobeyed an interim injunction against him on January 7, prohibiting him from being sworn in and admitted as the Member of Parliament-elect for the Akwatia constituency due to an ongoing legal contest over his election.

Mr Kumi presented himself in Parliament to be sworn in on January 7, 2025.

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The Judge, Justice Senyo Amedahe held that the convict, throughout the hearing of the contempt case, failed to appear in court in person.

He also rejected a letter from the minority side of Parliament claiming the MP was busy with parliamentary duties, hence his continuous absence from court.

The judge rejected the letter, insisting he would be going against his own ruling should he accept the letter from the minority caucus.

Source: Myjoyonline.com

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Asset declaration is good, but lifestyle audit is key among public officials – Domelevo to Mahama

Former Auditor General Daniel Yaw Domelevo has commended President John Mahama for declaring his assets but stressed the need for a lifestyle audit to effectively curb corruption among public officials.

Speaking on Joy News’ PM Express on Tuesday, February 18, he acknowledged the President’s move as a “good gesture” but raised concerns about the process.

“It is good to see that the President has declared his assets,” he said.

According to him, “I was not too happy seeing the envelope being given to the Auditor General because that goes more or less to support what people have all along been saying—that you put your declaration in an envelope, seal it, and give it to the Auditor General, which is not the case anyway.”

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“This should have gone through the entire process so that they capture it because you are supposed to verify the signature and be sure that the form has been properly completed. That at least should have been done, but it was not done,”he said.

While appreciating President Mahama’s directive for his appointees and public office holders to declare their assets by March 31, Domelevo expressed reservations about the timeline.

“To be honest with you, I think March 31 is too far away because the Constitution provides that it should be declared before you take office,” he argued.

He added that “Some will argue that Act 550 allows six months, but Act 550 contradicts the Constitution. I have a letter in my possession, written by former Attorney General Gloria Akuffo, confirming that the provisions of subsection 4(1) of Act 550 contradict the Constitution. However, we have all been upholding and following that.”

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Daniel Domelevo was particularly pleased with Mahama’s commitment to hold non-compliant officials accountable.

“I’m also happy the President says those who don’t declare are going to be punished or asked to leave office. I think that will cut across everybody, and that will be good,” he stated.

However, the former Auditor General stated that asset declaration alone is insufficient in tackling corruption.

“This declaration is good. We must add to it what we call a lifestyle audit and the reversal of the burden of proof,” Mr Domelevo insisted.

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“If we don’t do these two things so that we can audit and find out ‘how did you get this money?’, people are going to hide their resources or their assets with their families and friends. Everybody who is suspected of being an ally of a political or public office holder must be subjected to a lifestyle audit,” he concluded.

Source: Myjoyonline.com

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