Poisoned Waters: Authorities Vow Action on Densu & Weija River Pollution

The Densu, Ja, and Weija rivers in the Ga South Municipality of the Greater Accra Region are facing severe environmental degradation due to rampant illegal waste dumping, posing significant threats to public health and water security for thousands of households in Accra. The Weija Dam, which relies on these river systems and serves as a major source of treated water for the national capital, has come under increasing environmental pressure, leading to challenges for water treatment operations and contributing to recurring flooding.

Joseph Kobina Fiamor, the Assembly Member for Ngleshie Amanfro, has taken swift action to address the crisis. Following a JoyNews report highlighting the environmental violation, Mr. Fiamor engaged the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) and Municipal Health Officers to tackle the illegal dumping activities. After initial attempts at dialogue and enforcement failed, legal action became necessary. As a result, operators of an illegal waste disposal site along the banks of the Densu and Weija rivers are currently being processed for prosecution, with the case now in court. Coordinated enforcement efforts have reportedly curtailed dumping activities, but concerns persist about continued refuse transportation to the site by waste collectors, prompting calls for intensified monitoring.

In a broader intervention, authorities in Ngleshie Amanfro are also preparing to undertake a fumigation exercise along the banks of the Ja, Densu, and Weija river corridors. This initiative, championed by Assembly Member Joseph Kobina Fiamor, is part of a comprehensive package aimed at restoring sanitation, easing the burden on residents, and reviving the ecological integrity of the rivers. The fumigation exercise will complement ongoing enforcement actions against those involved in illegal dumping, as the municipality collaborates with relevant health and environmental authorities to ensure sustained compliance and prevent further degradation of the vital river systems.

Adding his voice to the growing concerns, Titus Nii Kwartei Glover, former Deputy Minister for Transport and Tema East MP, has called for the immediate arrest and prosecution of individuals polluting the Densu River. Speaking on JoyNews, Mr. Glover expressed deep dismay at the indiscriminate dumping of refuse into the river, emphasizing that the issue is an attitudinal problem rather than a political one. He highlighted that such pollution forces the Ghana Water Company to incur additional costs for treating water before distribution. Mr. Glover stressed the urgent need for strict enforcement of environmental laws and called on local authorities and unit committees to actively identify and punish offenders to create a deterrent against continued environmental damage.