The Chief Executive Officer of the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), Nana Ama Brown Klutse, has said $35 million will be required to completely restore the Birim River.
The EPA boss made this known during the pilot application of ionic nano copper technology on the Birim River.
According to the Chief Executive Officer of the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), Nana Ama Brown Klutse, the Nano-liquid technology will cost the state $200,000 per kilometre of flowing river to clean galamsey-polluted water.
The EPA boss described the Nano Copper as a game changer, noting $200,000 was spent, and that sustained support could lower water treatment costs.
The initiative is designed to test a copper-based nano liquid technology as a scientifically-backed method for cleaning rivers severely affected by illegal mining activities, often referred to as galamsey.
Based on the outcomes of this initial trial, the EPA plans to expand the project to other heavily polluted rivers, including the Ankobra, Pra, and Offin.
Speaking in an interview on Chanel One TV, Nana Ama Brown Klutse stated, “It took us about $200,000 to procure an amount that will clean one kilometre of every flowing river body. The Birim River is about 175 kilometres, so you can do the mathematics, we are talking about $35 million”.
It will be recalled that Prof Nana Ama Browne Klutse had earlier said Ghana will need US$200,000 to pilot a nano-liquid technological solution to reverse the devastation caused by illegal mining (galamsey).
According to the Executive Director EPA, the dechemicalization solution, containing a copper-based ‘nano liquid,’ has been laboratory-tested and proven effective in purifying heavily contaminated rivers.
She revealed the EPA is looking at various options, including membrane-based purification.
Speaking on JOYNEWS The Probe, October 5, Prof. Nana Ama Browne Klutse explained, “I want to tell my fellow Ghanaians that there is still hope, because we are in a technology age”.
“Yes, there’s a nano liquid that is copper-based that can be used. That’s just one”.
She added, “We have tried this, which has been tested in Greece. I have seen for myself. We have done the test in the lab for the EPA and advised the government on this; we have tested it, and it works, and it’s doable.”
“To do pilots to show to Ghanaians and even the presidents that this is doable. We need 200,000 USD if I get it today, we will do the pilot for every Ghanaian to see that with the flowing river, this particular technology can be used.”
“We are looking at all of the options, and we will have to decide on the one that is more affordable, not just cheap affordable, because it’s effective and also cost-effective”, Prof Nana Ama Browne Klutse added.
Meanwhile, a Toxicologist, Yakubu Adam, has issued a blunt warning that no amount of cooking or seasoning can destroy mercury, a heavy metal found in foodstuffs.
The toxicologist revealed that mercury, which is a heavy metal, has a lifespan of 880 years.
Toxicologist Yakubu Adam directly linked this immutable fact to the recent cases of food poisoning.
He argued that without a decisive end to illegal mining (galamsey), there is no viable solution to the contamination of the food supply.