In the wake of indiscriminate pollution of the water bodies and its associated cost of treatment for consumption, a proposal has been made for Ghana to consider exploiting its ground water resources.
The proponent, Dr Anthony Ewusi, a Geological Engineer at the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT) said though Ghana is wealthy in ground water resources, the country is yet to realize its full potential.
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“Ground water is in abundance in Ghana and I think it is time we exploit it. Countries like Denmark, Germany and others are basically dwelling on their water resources. This is because ground water is a cheaper option than surface water.Normally in groundwater you don’t require treatment,” Dr Ewusi argued.
Groundwater is found almost everywhere in Ghana, except some part of the Voltain where economic quantities of groundwater is scarce. Groundwater in Ghana is less susceptible to pollution.
Dr Ewusi indicated that quality of groundwater resources in the country is generally good except for some cases of localised pollution and areas with high levels of iron, fluoride and other minerals.
He explained, that there “there are few cases where the geology affects the quality of ground water but generally I think it is the best solution that we need to exploit.”
Dr Ewusi spoke to Public Agenda recently at the end of a four- day workshop on sustainable mining held for the media at UMaT, Tarkwa, in the Western Region.
While emphasizing the need to for Ghanaians to take care and control the country’s water bodies so as to prevent them from drying up, Dr Ewusi also advised government to initiate a hydro geological survey to map areas where ground water is available in terms of the quality or quantity so that it could easily be accessed when the need arises.
