CONIWAS Leads Call for Urgent Protection of Rivers at Ghana’s Maiden World Rivers Day Celebration

By Samuel Asamoah 

The Coalition of NGOs in Water and Sanitation (CONIWAS) has warned that Ghana’s future water security and livelihoods remain in jeopardy unless urgent and sustained action is taken to safeguard the nation’s rivers from illegal mining (galamsey), pollution, and destructive land use practices.

At Ghana’s maiden national celebration of World Rivers Day, organized by the Water Resources Commission under the Ministry of Works and Housing, CONIWAS Chairperson Dr. Beata Awinpoka Akanyani  called for stronger enforcement of environmental laws and community-led monitoring of water bodies.

“Ghana’s rivers are lifelines. They nourish our farms, power our homes, supply our communities, and support biodiversity. Yet, they remain under serious threat from pollution, poor land use practices, and most critically, illegal mining (galamsey),” Dr. Akanyani said.

She noted that mercury contamination from galamsey activities is destroying freshwater ecosystems, endangering millions of Ghanaians, and undermining national development. “The health of our water bodies is the health of our people and our future,” she stressed, urging government, civil society, and citizens to act collectively to halt river degradation.

Commission Advances Regulatory Measures

The Head of Policy, Planning, Research, Monitoring and Evaluation (PPRME) at the Water Resources Commission, Dr. Mawuli Lumor, assured stakeholders of the Commission’s commitment to Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM), which prioritises sustainability, inclusivity, and equity in water governance.

He revealed that the Commission had completed stakeholder consultations on new buffer zone and water pollution regulations, which will soon be laid before Parliament. These measures, he explained, are designed to protect riverbanks, reduce pollution, and safeguard freshwater resources across the country.

Traditional Leaders Add Their Voice

The Chief of Atwima Kwanwoma in the Ashanti Region, Nana Amponsah Kwaa IV, also issued a stern warning that Ghana’s future is under threat if urgent measures are not taken to protect rivers and water bodies.

“Without clean, flowing rivers, future generations will suffer. Rivers provide drinking water, farming, fishing, and livelihoods. Their destruction is a destruction of our very survival,” Nana Kwaa IV declared. He called for stronger collaboration among government agencies, traditional authorities, and communities to address galamsey, deforestation, and pollution.

Symbolic Tree Planting

To demonstrate their commitment, participants in the celebration pledged to plant trees along riverbanks to help maintain buffer zones, reduce erosion, and enhance water conservation — a step organizers said would contribute to climate resilience and ecosystem restoration.

Water Security Equals National Security

Dr. Akanyani emphasized that World Rivers Day is not just a celebration but a call to stewardship. She reaffirmed CONIWAS’s commitment to mobilizing communities, advocating for climate-resilient water systems, and ensuring the inclusion of women, youth, and vulnerable groups in water governance.

“As we mark this milestone, we must remember that water security is national security. Protecting our rivers is a shared duty. Together, through coordinated and sustained action, we can ensure Ghana’s rivers remain clean, protected, and resilient for generations to come,” she concluded.

World Rivers Day, initiated globally in 2005, is observed annually to highlight the importance of rivers and to advocate for their protection.