Ghana to import water from 2030 – Minister

Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, John Peter Amewu has indicated that Ghana is likely to import water from other countries if measures are not put in place to curb negative practices polluting the country’s water bodies.

According to him, Ghanaians are gradually digging their own graves with degradation and destruction of the countries lands, indicating that the country would have been in a much worse state if earlier generations engaged in such illegal practices.

Speaking at the launch of ‘Water for Rural Africa’ (WRA), a Non-Governmental Organisation geared towards championing the United Nations SDGs, Mr Amewu noted that the current trend of finding a place of abode is continuously denying thousands of Ghanaians access to potable water on daily basis.

He also emphasized that although President Akufo-Addo is working very hard to stop illegal mining, which is polluting our water bodies, the next generation of Ghanaians would have to import water from other countries if the trend is not stopped.

“Research has estimated that if the stern destruction of our forest, the approach to climate issues and our resistance to conduct environmental Sustainable packages continue then by 2030 we may as a country, Ghana, be importing water,” he said

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Hon. Amewu added that “As Ghanaians, it is our basic estimation that water would become a basic necessity but currently it is a very scarce necessity because of our own actions and inactions.”

Mr Donald Senanu Agumenu, President of the WRA noted that over six million people are living without clean water and over 23 million people without toilet facilities. He then urged all African leaders to be positive towards addressing the menace since development was human-centred.

He further called on corporate bodies to cooperate with government and the African continent at large, to adopt necessary strategies needed to champion this global issue.

Dr Jemima Yakah, Lecturer at the Department of Agricultural Extension Department, University of Ghana, also called on African leaders to adopt proactive strategies to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals 6; Access to safe water and sanitation and sound management of freshwater ecosystems are essential to human health and to environmental sustainability and economic prosperity.

She said the SDGs 6 ensures access to water and sanitation for all, and that, it was imperative for African authorities to provide quality and accessible water to all in rural communities.