River Densu Now Refuse Dump

By Our Reporter

Residents with the catchment area of the Densu River have virtually turned the coveted river into a dumping site for refuse and human excreta.

The river which serves as important source of drinking water for residents in Accra and its environment is now suffering pollution.

This paper has gathered that over the years, management of Regimanuel concrete products limited, a private construction company attempted to secure and prevent encroachment but miscreants have destroyed a large portion of the tress and turned the area into refuse dumps thus polluting Accra’s main source of drinking water.

The management of Regimanuel has expressed grave concern about the continuous encroachment and pollution of the Densu River by miscreants and residents within the catchment area at Weija and Oblogo.

Sources revealed that the nature of the encroachment is such that, most resident have directed their feacal  matter into the Densu  River, while others have turned it into refuse dump.

An appeal has therefore been made to the Ga West Municipal Assembly for an urgent intervention.

Meanwhile, an official who pleaded anonymity for security reasons, said that Regimanuel Concrete Products, has been operating legally within the catchment areas since 2000 and that the company started an afforestation project in 2001 within the catchment area and had since planted over 363acres of tress to reduce silting of the Densu River and the Weija Dam to protect the water quality.

According to the source it was disheartening that, people have encroached on the area and destroyed most of the tresses and turned the place into refuse dumping site.

The official said currently, the dam which was constructed in 1978, has become a dumping site, accompanied with indiscriminate harvesting of wood, sand winning, quarrying, and farming activities.

The situation, he said, has resulted in the Ghana Water Company Limited spending a lot of money to buy chemicals to treat water, thereby increasing cost four folds.

Speaking to an official at the communication Department of GWCL, he confirmed the development.

He said the GWCL is overwhelmed and saddened by the encroachment and pollution of the Weija Dam.

“We have tried to address this problem on many occasions but nothing concrete has come out of our efforts,” he said.

He said it only government and the Ministry of Water and Resources and Sanitation which must step in aggressively to stop the menace and free the Densu River from pollution.