The Ayensu River has come under severe threat from illegal mining, with its once-flowing waters now heavily polluted and the surrounding vegetation destroyed. The environmental damage is also affecting human settlements along the riverbanks.
The crisis has already disrupted the water supply in parts of the Central Region. Authorities were forced to shut down the Kwanyako Water Treatment Plant after water supplied from the Winneba Headworks was found to be contaminated beyond safe levels.
During a visit to some villages in the Ayensu River enclave, Channel One TV’s Kwaku David Sakyi-Saforo observed widespread destruction of the river’s ecosystem. Entire stretches of land near the river have been stripped of vegetation, while polluted water threatens both livelihoods and access to potable water.
Residents say the devastation has not only deprived them of clean drinking water but also destroyed farmlands and fishing opportunities that many depend on for survival.
The closure of the Kwanyako Water Treatment Plant has further heightened concerns about public health, with fears that prolonged shutdowns could lead to water shortages in affected communities.
Calls are mounting for urgent intervention by government and security agencies to clamp down on illegal mining activities along the Ayensu and restore the river to its natural state.
Below are some devastating pictures by Channel One TV’s David Kwaku Sakyi-Saforo
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