PURC Executive Secretary Dr Shafic Suleman says illegal mining has overwhelmed the Kyebi Water Treatment Plant with high turbidity and iron levels.

Published 10 Nov 2026, 07:28 GMT

2 min read

PURC and Ghana Water officials during a working tour in the Eastern Region — PURC officials on a working tour in the Eastern Region

Listen to this article

Playback position

0:002:00

Playback speed

Traditional leaders in Kyebi should intervene to protect drinking water sources from illegal mining, says Dr Shafic Suleman, Executive Secretary of the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC).

Suleman spoke to journalists in Koforidua on Monday, November 9, after visiting utility facilities in the Eastern Region. He said mining around catchment areas was undermining water treatment.

The plant draws its water from a mountain spring, roughly seven kilometres away from sites where illegal miners operate. Suleman said heavy pollution had raised turbidity and iron levels beyond the facility's treatment capacity.

Suleman said protecting the catchment requires collective action from residents and traditional leaders, while also noting that evening power fluctuations between 19:00 and 20:00 GMT have disrupted water pumping and treatment in Koforidua and Kyebi.

On power distribution, Suleman said PURC worked with the Energy Commission to fix low-voltage faults from overloaded transformers and ageing lines in Akim Oda, improving supply for about 8,000 consumers in Ofoase, Amantia and Akokoaso.

PURC and ECG also upgraded faulty transformers serving seven communities, among them Asenanu, Asaman-Tamfoe and Asamankese.

Over the past year, the commission received about 1,330 consumer complaints in the region and resolved 1,303 of them.

Araba IncoomAraba Incoom writes on multiple topics with a vast knowledge across different sector. You can almost call me an AI, after all, my initials are Araba Incoom.

PURC urges Kyebi chiefs to help stop galamsey polluting water sources

Suggested for you

More Stories

Trump says Iran war ‘effectively over’

Ghana seeks French investment in railway development

Agbodza inaugurates 15-member Road Maintenance Trust Fund board

Lands Minister launches four responsible mining cooperatives in Western Region

Ghana, Slovakia to begin visa waiver negotiations – Ablakwa

What looks like an opportunity can become a tragedy in seconds - Jinapor tells public to stay away from fuel tanker accident scenes

Discussion