The Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) has issued a stark warning about the escalating encroachment surrounding the Barekese Dam, highlighting the imminent risk it poses to water supply in the Greater Kumasi Area. According to GWCL, illegal activities within the catchment area of the Barekese Treatment Plant have become a major concern that demands immediate attention.

The company reported an alarming 80% reduction in forest cover within the Barekese catchment area, resulting in a staggering 53% increase in siltation. This substantial reduction in reservoir storage capacity, from 64.6 Mm3 to 21.4 Mm3, has been primarily attributed to Extensive Farming Activities in the area.

To tackle this critical issue, GWCL organized a stakeholder forum, involving chiefs, the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC), the Forestry Commission, and students, to devise a sustainable solution. The forum, held as part of activities marking World Water Day in Barekese, Ashanti Region, focused on the theme: “Leveraging Water for Peace: Promoting Utilization of Water for Peace.”

Dr. Hanson Mensah-Akutteh, the Regional Chief Manager of GWCL, Ashanti Production, emphasized the dire consequences of encroachment on the Barekese Dam. He highlighted that the reservoir's exposure to evaporation due to encroachment has disrupted water distribution to 80% of residents in Kumasi and its environs.

Dr. Mensah-Akutteh further underscored the adverse effects of extensive farming activities, which have transformed the catchment area into barren lands, leading to significant siltation after rainfall. This siltation, covering a large part of the dam, poses a severe threat to water distribution in the Greater Kumasi area in the foreseeable future.

Nana Kusi Oboadum, a Sub-Chief at Barekese, attributed the situation to the District Assembly and the Forestry Commission granting permission for tree-cutting and farming activities within the area's buffer zones. He called for stringent enforcement of laws against encroachment to address the issue effectively.

GWCL and stakeholders emphasized the urgent need for collective action to combat encroachment and illegal mining activities, safeguarding water supply in the region. With water shortages already being experienced in some areas of Greater Kumasi, immediate intervention is imperative to prevent a full-blown water crisis in the future.