Kumasi: Five key stakeholder groups have been urged to collaborate effectively to protect the catchment area of the Barekese Water Treatment Plant in the Atwima Nwabiagya North District of the Ashanti Region. Dr. Hanson Mensah-Akutteh, Ashanti Regional Director of the Ghana Water Company (GWC), identified the District Assembly, traditional authorities, community members, schools and youth groups, as well as the media, as critical institutions in safeguarding the catchment.
According to Ghana News Agency, Dr. Mensah-Akutteh emphasized the need for the Assembly to strengthen and enforce by-laws to prevent activities that degrade the catchment. He called on traditional rulers to continue championing environmental stewardship within their communities. Community members and farmers were urged to adopt sustainable land-use practices and engage in tree-planting activities. Schools and youth groups were encouraged to embrace environmental conservation as a civic duty. The media was called upon to sustain public education on the importance of protecting water sources and support advocacy efforts aimed at environmental conservation.
Dr. Mensah-Akutteh made these remarks during a tree-planting exercise organized by the GWC in collaboration with the Forestry Commission (FC) within the catchment area of the Barekese Water Treatment Plant under the 'Tree for Life' initiative. The exercise aims to plant more than 5,000 trees, including mahogany, Terminalia superba (Ofram), and Cedrela odorata (Gyenegyene), within the catchment area by June 2026.
He highlighted that the quality and quantity of water available for treatment largely depend on the health of the catchment ecosystem. He described the catchment as a lifeline sustaining the treatment plant, which provides safe drinking water to thousands of consumers in the Kumasi Metropolis and surrounding communities.
Dr. Mensah-Akutteh noted that reforestation is not merely an environmental exercise but a strategic investment in the survival of the water industry and the sustainability of continuous service delivery to support life and socio-economic growth. He explained that forests serve as natural filters, improving water quality, enhancing climate resilience, improving rainfall patterns, reducing evaporation, lessening the burden on treatment facilities, and minimizing the risks associated with droughts and flooding.
He expressed concern over the significant degradation of the catchment due to illegal logging, indiscriminate farming practices, bush burning, sand winning, and settlement expansion. These activities have led to soil erosion, sedimentation of water bodies, reduced reservoir capacity, and deterioration in raw water quality through eutrophication and high turbidity levels.
Mr. Abraham Essel, Nkawie District Forestry Manager, stated that the three tree species selected for the exercise were chosen for their fast growth rate, early maturity, and ability to protect watersheds. Mr. Mba Zechariah Alenbilla, District Chief Executive for Atwima Nwabiagya North, commended the institutions involved in the initiative and pledged the Assembly's support to ensure its success. He noted that environmental conservation and afforestation remain key priorities of the Government and urged residents to support efforts aimed at restoring and protecting the district's natural resources.