The Chancellor of the University of Education, Winneba (UEW), Neenyi Ghartey VII, has renewed calls for stronger action against illegal miners, whose activities have severely polluted the River Ayensu, the primary water source for the Agona Kwanyarko treatment plant.
The contamination has led to widespread water shortages in parts of the Central Region. Neenyi Ghartey VII made the remarks during UEW’s 30th Graduation Ceremony, which saw 8,288 students graduate, ranging from diploma to doctorate levels.
Expressing deep concern, the Chancellor stated that the once-clean Ayensu River—used for drinking, cooking, and irrigation—has now become “milky, toxic, and contaminated with mercury and cyanide” due to illegal mining.
He also condemned reports of illegal miners attacking state security personnel, describing such incidents as alarming and unacceptable.
Neenyi Ghartey VII urged the government to equip the National Anti-Illegal Mining Taskforce (NAIMOS) with modern technology to enhance the fight against galamsey across the country.
The Central Regional Minister, Ekow Okyere Panyin, called on academic institutions to collaborate with the government in protecting Ghana’s water bodies from further degradation.
Meanwhile, UEW Vice-Chancellor Prof. Stephen Jobson Mitchual echoed the call for environmental protection and additionally advocated for the use of Ghanaian languages at the primary school level to strengthen foundational learning.
