By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Independent News ExpressIndependent News Express
  • Home
  • International
    InternationalShow More
    UN
    North Africa: Green Climate Fund Approves Record $300m For FAO-designed Projects In Papua New Guinea, Saint Lucia, The Sahel
    23 hours ago
    UNICEF
    How Wars Across Middle East, North Africa Affecting Children – UNICEF
    1 day ago
    UNDP
    UN Development Programme Welcomes Historic Deal On Sustainable Development Even Amidst Global Turmoil
    2 days ago
    UN Secretary-General Launches Report To Break “The Cycle Of Debt Distress”
    5 days ago
    Israel-Iran War: South Africa Wants United Nations To Step In
    2 weeks ago
  • Africa
    Africa
    Show More
    Top News
    UN Women Kenya Trains Motorcycle Taxi Operators
    3 years ago
    Nigeria To Host Sahel Climate Fund Secretariat
    2 years ago
    Dangote Recounts Investors’ Bad Experience With AU Passports In Some African Nations
    2 years ago
    Latest News
    Ooni’s Wife, Olori Temitope Enitan-Ogunwusi Takes Ile Ife Royalty To ADWIN Launch In Cote d’Ivoire
    3 weeks ago
    Independent UN Body Finds Systemic Racism Against Africans And People Of African Descent
    3 weeks ago
    Public Exit: Why South Africa Businesses Are Moving To Private Cloud
    4 weeks ago
    Cameroon Tops List Of World’s Most Neglected Displacement Crises
    4 weeks ago
  • Corporate News
    • Media Outreach
  • Politics
    Politics
    Show More
    Top News
    Impunity, Insecurity Threaten Nigeria’s General Elections
    2 years ago
    Warri South Leaders Seek Review Of Delta South Senatorial Election Result
    2 years ago
    Obasa Returns As Speaker, Lagos House Of Assembly
    2 years ago
    Latest News
    Lagos LG Poll: Tunde Disco/Ganiyu Obasa Intensify Campaign In Agege
    6 days ago
    PHOTOS: Vinod Obasa Joins Other Lagos APC LG Candidates At Sanwo-Olu’s Reception
    1 week ago
    Lagos Lawmaker Praises Tinubu For Helping Nigeria Breathe Again
    3 weeks ago
    LG Election: Stakeholders Appeal To APC Not To Allow Chairmen Run For 3rd term
    2 months ago
  • News
    • Agriculture
    • Breaking News
    • Tech
    • Maritime
    • Crime
    • Art & Culture
    News
    Show More
    Top News
    Ondo Governor, Akeredolu Begins Construction Of First Flyover In Akure
    2 years ago
    Celebration Of Life: Reverend Adewumi Jegede Of Later House Of God Assembly Buried Amid Pomp
    1 year ago
    Pa Abdulfatah Amoo Ayanwale
    Pa Ayanwale Dies At 76, Fidau Prayers Holds 8 August
    2 years ago
    Latest News
    2025 World Drug Day: CIKDAS, Flour Mills, Planet Bottling Company Partner To Combat Drug Abuse Amongst Youths
    2 days ago
    D2D Satellite Comms: Nigeria’s Space Research Agency Signs MoU With Chinese Firm, Galaxy Space
    2 weeks ago
    Substance Use Prevention In Focus As NDLEA, UNODC Unveil 2025 World Drug Day Activities
    2 weeks ago
    Benue: Stop the Killings, CAPPA Demands Immediate Action
    2 weeks ago
  • Entertainment
    • Comedy
    • Movies
    • Music
    • Television
    • Concert & Events
    Entertainment
    Show More
    Top News
    Whiskey: Burna Boy’s Story On Pollution, Flood And Negligence
    3 years ago
    XPression With CDO Train To Hit Nigerian Campuses Soon
    2 years ago
    Asake Out With 14-track ‘Work of Art’ Album
    2 years ago
    Latest News
    The Drama Returns As BBNaija ‘No Loose Guard’ Reunion Premieres June 23
    2 weeks ago
    You Can’t Fake it — James Omekwe On MultiChoice’s Impact On African Filmmaking
    3 weeks ago
    Jkenova and Ellacentric Exit Nigerian Idol Season 10 In Emotional Farewell
    3 weeks ago
    MultiChoice Africa x African Storytelling: How Local Content Shapes Local Culture
    4 weeks ago
  • Lifestyle
    • Fashion
    • Love & Life
    • Food & Drink
    • Travel & Tourism
    • Relationship
    • Sex
    Lifestyle
    Show More
    Top News
    Lagos To Celebrate Annual Yoruba Culture Last Week Of September
    1 year ago
    Glame Attires Steals The Show At Warri Fashion Lifestyle Festival
    2 years ago
    2nd International Conference for Event Ushers Holds In Ibadan
    4 months ago
    Latest News
    Noble Call to Service: Inside the Induction of 104 New Knights of St. Mulumba
    2 weeks ago
    Joining The Knighthood Brings You Closer To God -Sir Eva Njemanze
    2 weeks ago
    Africa Tech Festival Unveils Strategic Themes For 2025 Event,
    3 weeks ago
    Lagos SWAN Joins UN To Celebrate World Nutrition Month At Unilag Confab
    1 month ago
  • Business
    • Banking & Finance
    • Oil & Gas
    BusinessShow More
    NNPCL Board Accused Of Planning Lavish Party In Rwanda Amidst N210tn Financial Scandal
    2 weeks ago
    Can the African Energy Bank Transform the Continent’s Refining and Downstream Future?
    3 weeks ago
    Lagos Will Continue To Lead Initiatives That Accelerate Economic Diversification – Sanwo-Olu
    1 month ago
    Afreximbank
    Afreximbank Reports Strong Performance For Q1 2025 In Line With expectations
    1 month ago
    Pan-African Payment & Settlement System
    Nigeria Unlocks Intra-African Trade With New Pan-African Payment & Settlement System Policy Boost
    2 months ago
  • Health
    Health
    Show More
    Top News
    In Ghana, Demands For Body Enhancement Surgeries On The Rise
    2 years ago
    Women And Men Mistakenly Given Different Advice To Prevent Heart Disease
    3 years ago
    FIND Welcomes Adoption Of Historic WHO Assembly Resolution On Diagnostics
    2 years ago
    Latest News
    Online Education Can Enhance Clinical Guideline Use By Over 50% 
    3 weeks ago
    The Hidden Lifeline – Blood Security And Africa’s Health Agenda By Dr Allan Pamba
    3 weeks ago
    Apepa or Arterial Blockage? The Urgency of Self-Care After 45 By Babafemi Ojudu
    4 weeks ago
    Roche Launches Diagnostics Operations In Nigeria,
    4 weeks ago
  • More
    • Sports
    • Aviation/Transportation
    • Deliverance Hour
    • Industry & Labour
    • Insurance
    • Interview
    • Judiciary
    • Metro
    • Opinion
    • Property
    • Religious
    • Romance
    • Science & Discovery
Reading: CAPPA, African Activists Demand End To Poisoning Of Water Bodies In Ghana
Share
Notification Show More
Aa
Independent News ExpressIndependent News Express
Aa
  • Home
  • International
  • Africa
  • Corporate News
  • Politics
  • News
  • Entertainment
  • Lifestyle
  • Business
  • Health
  • More
Search
  • Home
  • International
  • Africa
  • Corporate News
    • Media Outreach
  • Politics
  • News
    • Agriculture
    • Breaking News
    • Tech
    • Maritime
    • Crime
    • Art & Culture
  • Entertainment
    • Comedy
    • Movies
    • Music
    • Television
    • Concert & Events
  • Lifestyle
    • Fashion
    • Love & Life
    • Food & Drink
    • Travel & Tourism
    • Relationship
    • Sex
  • Business
    • Banking & Finance
    • Oil & Gas
  • Health
  • More
    • Sports
    • Aviation/Transportation
    • Deliverance Hour
    • Industry & Labour
    • Insurance
    • Interview
    • Judiciary
    • Metro
    • Opinion
    • Property
    • Religious
    • Romance
    • Science & Discovery
Have an existing account? Sign In
Follow US
  • Advertise
© 2022 Foxiz News Network. Ruby Design Company. All Rights Reserved.
Independent News Express > Blog > Metro > CAPPA, African Activists Demand End To Poisoning Of Water Bodies In Ghana
MetroNews

CAPPA, African Activists Demand End To Poisoning Of Water Bodies In Ghana

Last updated: 2024/10/06 at 12:24 PM
9 months ago
Share
SHARE

Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) and nine other rights organisations in seven African countries have demanded that the Ghanaian government immediately halt the ongoing poisoning of water bodies, lands, aquatic/marine life and human health by illegal miners.

In a statement issued on Sunday under the auspices of the Our Water Our Right Africa Coalition (OWORAC), they solidarized with Ghanaians protesting the devastating impact of illegal mining activities, locally known as galamsey, affirming that access to safe drinking water is an internationally recognised human right.

They warned that the Ghanaian government’s failure to check the problem was resulting in the ongoing poisoning of public health and collapse of the source of livelihood for the many people who live in communities around these water bodies.

- Advertisement -
Ad imageAd image

OWORAC further called on the Ghanaian authorities to commence remediation of impacted waters and lands and to enforce stringent regulations that will compel mining actors to adopt sustainable and responsible practices.

The statement was signed by seven OWORAC partners, including Geoffrey Kabutey Ocansey for Revenue Mobilisation Africa (Ghana), Omeme Gaslin of Génération Eau Claire (Gabon), Akinbode Oluwafemi for CAPPA (Nigeria), Betty Abah for the Centre for Children’s Health Education, Orientation and Protection (Nigeria), Pascal Bekono for the African Centre for Advocacy (Cameroon), Anne Maine for Biodiversity and Biosafety Association of Kenya, Chief Ewuokem Godson for SYNATEEC SYNDICATE (Cameroon), Sani Baba for Citizens Free Service Forum (Nigeria), Amaka Nweke of Network for Water Rights Initiative (Nigeria) and Oumar Ba for Confédération de Syndicats Autonomes du Sénégal

The statement, titled “GALAMSEY: OWORAC STANDS IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE GHANAIAN PEOPLE, DEMANDS AN END TO THE POLLUTION OF WATER SOURCES,” reads:

“The Our Water Our Right Africa Coalition (OWORAC) stands in solidarity with the Ghanaian people protesting the devastating impact of illegal mining activities, locally known as galamsey, on water bodies, farming lands, aquatic/marine life and human health. We particularly affirm that access to clean and safe drinking water is an internationally recognised human right, therefore, we call on the Ghanaian authourities to take decisive actions to end this ecological assault.

“It is no news that illegal mining operations utilise dangerous chemicals like mercury and cyanide, which contaminate water systems and farming soil, presenting a grave danger to public health. Increasing sad stories of suffering abound in the news of Ghanaians affected by the consequences of this reckless extractivism.

“Water sources such as the Densu, Birim, Pra, Ankobra, and Tano rivers, which previously served as important sustaining utilities for many frontline communities and households, are now toxic streams, exposing helpless people who have no choice but to continue drinking from them to dire health consequences. The pollution of these rivers has destroyed aquatic life and rendered soils infertile, stripping local fish and crop farmers of their livelihoods and slashing agricultural productivity.

“Pathetically, in Bibiani-Anhwiaso-Bekwai district, an illegal mining hub in Western Ghana, medical experts have established a connection between illegal mining and troubling reproductive health issues after conducting investigations that detected the presence of heavy metals such as cyanide and mercury in the placentas of pregnant women, resulting in congenital disabilities in their newborns.

“So pervasive is the trouble of galamsey that the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) has had to shut down some of its water treatment plants supplying potable water to communities, leading to increased water scarcity and hardship. This unfortunate situation is now also driving up water tariffs. Even so, experts’ analyses of the situation predict a grim future, where Ghana might face the need to import water by 2030 if galamsey persists unchecked.

“Yet despite this troubling outlook, the state’s response has been repression rather than resolution. Citizens and protesters demanding action from the Ghanaian government have been arrested by the police, brutally manhandled and detained, and denied access to legal representation and their families. OWORAC vehemently condemns these oppressive actions by the Ghanaian government and its security apparatus, working to silence legitimate public dissent.

“Instead of criminalising people for speaking up against the threat of galamsey to their lives, we urge the Ghanaian government to declare a state of emergency on all mining activities in and around water bodies as directed by the constitution of the republic.

“Ironically, despite governmental promises to combat this crisis, a palpable lack of political will and the entanglement of high-ranking politicians in galamsey operations across the country, as revealed by the government’s own Inter-Ministerial Committee set up to investigate the issue, continue to obstruct meaningful change.

“Sardonically, government-backed political actors have publicly disclosed that their government will not act against galamsey operations because of the possible negative impact it may have on their electoral fortunes in the upcoming general elections that will be held in less than two months away, selfishly and pathetically placing their electoral fortunes above the public health of the electorates they expect to secure the votes from.

“We refuse to accept this status quo, where the greed of a few outweighs the well-being of many and the cause of social justice. We insist on immediate, responsible action to halt the ongoing poisoning of public health and collapse of the source of livelihood for the many people who live in communities around these water bodies.

“OWORAC calls on Ghanaian authorities to commence remediation of impacted waters and lands and to enforce stringent regulations that will compel mining actors to adopt sustainable and responsible practices. We also urge environmental authorities to hold those responsible for this menace accountable.

“These steps are crucial for safeguarding the human rights of communities and ensuring an adequate standard of living, health, and well-being for every Ghanaian, as they rightly deserve.”

You Might Also Like

2025 World Drug Day: CIKDAS, Flour Mills, Planet Bottling Company Partner To Combat Drug Abuse Amongst Youths

D2D Satellite Comms: Nigeria’s Space Research Agency Signs MoU With Chinese Firm, Galaxy Space

Substance Use Prevention In Focus As NDLEA, UNODC Unveil 2025 World Drug Day Activities

Benue: Stop the Killings, CAPPA Demands Immediate Action

Court Orders Flouted Again as Armed Men Escort Attempted Takeover Of Lekki Property

TAGGED: Our Water Our Right Africa Coalition
INadminNG October 6, 2024 October 6, 2024
Share This Article
Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Whatsapp LinkedIn Telegram Email Print
Previous Article Unity Bank, ANWBN Empower Women Entrepreneurs with AI, Digital Marketing Skills 
Next Article MultiChoice Announces Revamp of SuperSport Variety Channels
about us

Independent News Express (iNews Express), a publication of 4Ds Nigeria Limited, is birthed out of the desires of the founding fathers to report News as it is.

We value Professionalism, Excellence, Service, Creativity and Integrity.

The Company

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy & Policy

Quick Links

  • Advertise with us
  • Newsletters
  • Deal

Categories

Find Us on Socials

© Independent News Express. All Rights Reserved.
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Lost your password?