Water shortage hits Bramkrom
The only alternative source of water for the people of Bramkrom, a community in the Birim North District, near Nkawkaw, River Nwin, has been heavily polluted by illegal miners, who have placed their ‘chanfan’ machines in the river to mine gold.
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The ‘chanfan’ is the machine used in digging the sand from the riverbed.
The situation is even more precarious as nurses at the Community Health Planning Services (CHPS) Centre, face serious challenges getting water for their work, especially during deliveries.
Speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) at Bramkrom, the Odikro (chief) of the community, Nana Kwabena Chartey-Bram, said during the dry season, water became very scarce in the area.
Nana Chartey-Bram disclosed that on December 29, last year, when he heard of the illegal mining on the river, which is their only source of water, he reported the matter to the Nkawkaw District Police Command, which has jurisdiction over the area.
He said the police quickly went to the scene and arrested two of the operators and seized some of their mining equipment.
However, ‘it seems the police is reluctant in prosecuting the case; as the last time I visited the police, the crime investigator told me to withdraw the case and settle it amicably with the illegal miners’.
When the GNA contacted the District Commander, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Seth Yirenkyi, he said he was not aware his crime investigator had made that suggestion, and that his outfit was still pursuing the case.
He said he rather expected the complainant to report back to him about his displeasure concerning the investigator and not to go to the media.
DSP Yirenkyi said they arrested two suspected illegal miners, as the others bolted at the sight of the police.
According to him, the two suspects had since been granted police enquiry bail, pending further investigations.
Nana Chartey-Bram said the community was heavily starved of water and that the little water from the only borehole flowed late in the night, ‘sometimes a bucket full’, which is shared amongst households, especially to those in dire need.
According to him, the River Nwin, which serves as the alternative source of water, had now been polluted by ‘galamsey’ miners so they were unable to use it.