PHOTOS: Illegal mining destroying Densu river, affecting lives of thousand

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The people depending on the Densu river are currently in a dilemma as some illegal miners are destroying the headwater of Densu.

In an interaction with the people of Apraso in the Abuakwa South Constituency in the Eastern Region said they are now restless as the only water source they have is being destroyed by some illegal miners.

“We only depend on the Densu river that is our only source of water and it is been destroyed by illegal miners. The headwater of Densu comes from Obousi a farming community a few meters from here,” one of the people said.

“We don’t know where they came from they started mining at where the headwater of Densu is and that is very dangerous. I’m a farmer and that is the only source of water we the farmers depend on is Densu and they are destroying it,” a farmer said.

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Speaking in an interview with Radio 1’s ‘Our Land Our Future’ program, former assembly member of Apraso said the people are afraid to complain but I can not sit and watch.

“They are really destroying the Densu River and if we sit and watch there will be no Densu in a week if you see the current state of the Densu will cry. I have made a complaint to the Apapam chief and reported to the police with the help of Arocha Ghana,” he said.

“We don’t know where they are from they just came and start mining in the river and there are some people in the town who gave them the go-ahead to destroy our water all in the name of money including the Asafoakye and the assemblywoman and some unit committee members.”

“Mind you we are not the only people depending on the Densu River. The people of Nsawam and Weija in Accra also depend on it. Imagine the number of people who will be affected,” he added.

He stressed that the illegal miners are armed and if you dare them they will shot you. “They don’t even cover their pit. A young man fell in one of the pits and died this is what is going on.”

The Densu River is a 116 km long river in Ghana rising in the Atewa Range. It flows through an economically important agricultural region, supplies half the drinking water to Ghana’s capital city of Accra, and ends in ecologically significant wetlands at the edge of the Atlantic Ocean. The Densuano Dam and Weija Dam are situated on the Densu River.

Below are some photos that were taken 6 days ago but according to report, the damage has since been worse.