Ghana: Galamsey Shuts Down Kyebi Water Treatment Plant · Thousands Forced to Rely On Boreholes and Wells

What the report says

Thousands of residents in Kyebi and nearby communities in Ghana’s Eastern Region are relying on boreholes and wells after the Kyebi Water Treatment Plant was shut down by Ghana Water Limited more than a year ago, according to the Ghanaian Times via AllAfrica. The closure was tied to pollution in the Birim River, which supplies the plant with raw water.

The report says illegal small-scale gold mining, locally known as galamsey, has severely affected the river’s quality. At the plant’s intake point, turbidity reportedly rose to levels far beyond what the facility was designed to handle, making normal treatment impossible. The prolonged disruption has left many households without access to piped water from the plant.

Instead, residents have turned to alternative sources, including boreholes and wells. The article notes that some of these sources contain high iron levels, which raises concerns about water quality even where supply is available.

The issue came into view during a working visit by the Executive Secretary of the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission, Dr. Shafiq Suleiman, last Friday. The situation underscores the wider impact of illegal mining on water infrastructure in Ghana, where river pollution has increasingly disrupted supply systems and created added pressure on affected communities.