Accra: Ghana joined the world to celebrate World Rivers Day, highlighting the crucial role rivers play in human survival and the need for collective action to protect water bodies. The World Rivers Day is a global celebration observed on the fourth Sunday of September every year, dedicated to creating awareness about the value of rivers and encouraging stewardship and protection.
According to Ghana News Agency, speaking at the commemoration of the 2025 World Rivers Day in Accra, Dr. Mawuli Lumor, Head of Policy, Planning, Research, Monitoring and Evaluation (PPRME) Water Resources Commission, emphasized that rivers remained the lifeline of society, sustaining agriculture, energy, fisheries, and livelihoods across the country. He said this year’s theme, ‘Our Rivers, Our Future,’ serves as a reminder of the interdependence between people and their responsibility to preserve rivers for future generations.
Dr. Lumor remarked, ‘This day reminds us of the crucial role rivers play in our lives; it calls for concrete efforts to raise both rural and national awareness on the importance, problems, and solutions of water.’ He highlighted the necessity of developing new strategies in policies and programs to address current and future challenges. He drew attention to the plight of millions of people living in slums and rural communities without access to safe drinking water, adequate sanitation, and sufficient food, stressing the urgency of tackling water-related inequalities.
He reaffirmed the mandate of ensuring the sustainable management and development of the country’s water resources. He said the Commission had completed stakeholder consultations on the development of Water Usage Regulations, Borehole Drilling and Licensing Regulations, which would be laid before Parliament for adoption. He urged institutions, communities, and individuals to adopt good water practices, conserve water resources, and actively participate in protection efforts.
Nana Amponsah Kwaa IV, Chief of Atwima Kwanwoma and the Board Member of Water Resources Commission, in his keynote address, highlighted the importance of rivers to human life, the environment, and economic growth. He mentioned that major rivers such as the Ayensu, Pra, Ankobra, and Tano provide drinking water, support farming, and hold cultural and spiritual significance for many communities. He pointed out that illegal mining, deforestation, and indiscriminate waste disposal had left many water bodies polluted and degraded, with rising levels of chemicals posing serious health risks to communities.
He noted that the government has rolled out several initiatives to curb the menace, ‘the National Anti-Illegal Mining Secretariat, established under the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, has been tasked with leading intelligence and operational efforts against illegal mining.’ He stated that the ministry had declared rivers and forest reserves as security zones, giving security agencies greater authority to crack down on illegal operations. He emphasized that safeguarding rivers cannot be left to government alone, and communities were urged to view themselves as custodians of the rivers that run through their lands.
Dr. Deborah Darko, an engineer with Ghana’s CSIR Water Research, reminded citizens that rivers were more than waves of water, stressing their role in sustaining communities, ecosystems, and the national economy. She cautioned, however, that Ghana’s rivers were under serious threat from pollution, illegal mining, and poor waste management. She urged policymakers, institutions, and communities to renew their commitment to safeguarding rivers, linking such efforts to United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Dr. Beata Awinpoka Akanyani, Chairperson of the Coalition of NGOs in Water and Sanitation (CONIWAS), commended the government for demonstrating bold leadership in championing sustainable water management. She underscored her organization’s commitment to promoting responsible water resource management through a framework that prioritizes equity, sustainability, and inclusive decision-making. She said, ‘with a network of over 80 members working alongside all 261 Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), the group would continue to mobilize communities, enforce environmental laws, and advocate for climate resilience.’