Water Resources Commission Calls for Urgent Protection of Tano River Basin.

Techiman: The Water Resources Commission (WRC) has taken significant steps to educate Senior High School students and both public and private institutions on the importance of water management, urging for its prudent use. The commission specifically emphasized the protection of the Tano River Basin, which serves as a trans-boundary water source between Ghana and Cote D'Ivoire.According to Ghana News Agency, Mr. Solomon Danso-Ankamah, a Principal Officer and the Head of Tano Basin of the WRC, highlighted the critical role the Tano River Basin plays as a primary source of potable water for many Ghanaians, underscoring the necessity of its preservation. Speaking at an educational and awareness forum on water resources management organized by the WRC in Techiman, Danso-Ankamah stressed that access to clean and quality water is vital for human health and survival.The forum aimed to raise public awareness about the importance of protecting water bodies to ensure a safer environment. Mr. Danso-Ankamah detailed t he advantages of managing and safeguarding water bodies within the basin, which include improved livelihoods and aquaculture, as well as a decrease in waterborne diseases, asserting that "without safe water life can't go on."Mr. Yaw Konadu Yiadom, Assistant Officer at the Tano River Basin, reiterated that water is a fundamental necessity for human security and survival. He noted its central role in adapting to environmental changes, linking the climate system, human society, and the environment. He explained that the Tano River Basin covers approximately 16,060 square kilometers, with 92.6 percent located in Ghana and 7.4 percent in Ivory Coast.Yiadom urged the public to refrain from illegal alluvial mining activities in water bodies, highlighting that such practices harm not only the river but also human health. He also called on farmers to stop cultivating along riverbanks.Some students from Techiman Mount Carmel Girls Senior High School and Techiman SHS expressed their newfound awareness in an interv iew with the Ghana News Agency. They promised to contribute to protecting water bodies by educating their peers to avoid discarding waste in rivers and streams.