The continued degradation and siltation of the White Volta as a result of sand winning activities at Nawuni in the Kumbungu District will soon leave Tamale and its environs without water.
This is the assessment of Steven Ndebugri, Northern Regional Chief Manager of the Ghana Water Company Limited, GWCL, who added that the increased sand winning activities upstream of the river through the use of excavators had left it dwindled in size, and it contained a lot of dissolved particles, which meant a high cost of producing water as more chemicals are being used to treat the polluted water.
Mr Ndebugri gave the warning when members of the Northern Regional Security Council, led by the Regional Minister, visited Nawuni to observe the damage being caused to the river as a result of sand winning activities in the area.
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The GWCL draws water from the White Volta at Nawuni for treatment to serve the Tamale Metropolis, Savelugu/Nanton Municipality, Kumbungu, and Tolon Districts.
However, contractors depend on sand from the riverside at Nawuni to construct residential property leading to increased sand winning activities upstream of the river through the use of sophisticated machinery including excavators.
Mr Ndebugri warned that the river would soon dry up if nothing was done about the rate at which sand winning was taking place in the area.
He described the current state of the river as dangerous for consumers saying it was affecting the water treatment plant as it was exposed to damage.
Mr Salifu Saeed, Northern Regional Minister, who is also Chairman of the Regional Security Council, gave a week’s ultimatum to those engaged in sand winning in the area to relocate from the upstream to the downstream of the river to save it from drying.
Mr Saeed said government would not sit unconcerned for the river to dry up and appealed to the traditional authorities in the area to observe the measures suggested to save the river.
Meanwhile, the GWCL is currently rationing water supply to consumers in the Tamale Metropolis because it is unable to produce enough water to meet the requirement of the residents. Â