Kpeve: The Managing Director of Ghana Water Limited (GWL), Mr. Adam Mutawakilu, has raised concerns over unauthorized construction activities by BSK City Developers near the Kpeve Water Treatment Plant in the Volta Region. The construction persists despite an official directive to halt such activities near the facility's intake point.
According to Ghana News Agency, Mr. Mutawakilu, who led a team from GWL to inspect the affected area at Kpeve Tornu in the Afadzato South District, reported that the developer's non-compliance with the stop-work order from the Volta Regional Coordinating Council has exacerbated the situation. This defiance has led to periodic shutdowns of the treatment plant, particularly during rainfall, due to severe siltation and elevated turbidity levels that surpass the plant's treatment capacity.
The turbidity of the water, normally around five Nephelometric Turbidity Units (NTU), has surged to approximately 140 NTU following the onset of construction activities. This increase has made water treatment extremely challenging, forcing the plant to suspend operations intermittently to protect its infrastructure.
Mr. Mutawakilu explained that all administrative processes to halt the developer's operations have been exhausted. He noted that despite swift action by the minister and a directive from the Volta Regional Minister to suspend all activities within the buffer zone, the contractor has continued construction, undermining the authority of state institutions and threatening the sustainability of the water supply to thousands across the region.
The GWL Managing Director appealed to National Security for immediate intervention to stop the ongoing construction and restore the affected area to its natural state. The plant's inability to treat water due to increased turbidity risks significant water shortages and potential irreversible damage to its infrastructure. This situation also jeopardizes future plans for the facility's expansion, as continued encroachment could make it challenging to upgrade the plant.
The Volta Regional Coordinating Council had earlier issued a letter suspending all construction activities by BSK City Developers to protect the integrity of the water source and avert a potential supply crisis. However, the developer's continued activities have aggravated the situation, posing severe environmental risks.
Mr. Mutawakilu reaffirmed GWL's commitment to ensuring a safe and sustainable water supply but emphasized the need for urgent, coordinated action from state institutions to protect the country's water resources from encroachment and future threats.
