Wilfred Ayitey Blankson, the Presiding Member of the Weija Gbawe Municipal Assembly, has dismissed reports that illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, is being carried out on the Densu River at Oblogo near Weija.
According to Wilfred Ayitey Blankson, the activities being conducted on the river are legitimate dredging works aimed at removing silt and reducing the risk of flooding in communities along the waterway.
He highlighted that the ongoing works are intended to mitigate flooding and protect communities located along the Densu River, particularly during periods of heavy rainfall and dam spillage.
Mr Blankson disclosed that the dredging is being undertaken by private entities with the approval of the Assembly.
He stated, “There are private individuals on board helping the Assembly dredge the Densu River. We can all attest to what happened when the dam was spilled and the rains set in; the Municipality went through a lot”.
“To the best of my knowledge, we are partnering with most of the companies within the municipality to do the dredging so that people at SCC, Oblogo, Weija, Pambros will have some relief,” he added.
Earlier reports by UTV Ghana shared a footage showed a floating platform constructed from wood planks, plastic barrels, and ropes on the dam water, interspersed with shots of nearby residential areas and the dam’s banks.
The development has since raised serious concerns about the possible threat to the dam and Accra’s water supply, with residents calling on the relevant authorities to urgently investigate how the machine was brought to the area and determine the purpose for which it is being used.
Reports detailed that the Weija Dam supplies around 80% of Accra’s drinking water from the Densu River; the channels close to the dam have raised concerns over potential pollution of one of Ghana’s drinking water sources.
However, a UTV reporter who spoke to some community leaders revealed that they were unaware of how the chanfang machine found its way to the area. They, however, believe the machine may have been brought in to clear sand from the water body.
The Chief of the area also disclosed that the traditional authorities had not been officially informed about any activity taking place near the dam. According to him, all they had observed was the machine gathering sand from the area.
The UTV reporter further disclosed that the community could not, however, confirm whether the activity was linked to illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, stressing that they were unable to determine the exact purpose for which the machine was being used.
In related news, some months ago, the spillage from the Weija Dam left over a hundred homes submerged.
According to reports, Schools and businesses in communities including Tetegu, Oblogo, and parts of Weija have been shut down as floodwaters inundated homes and submerged roads; some areas are now only accessible by canoe.
Residents of Weija have revealed that the floodwaters have risen to window level in some homes, with families having to relocate belongings to higher ground or seek temporary shelter elsewhere.
According to one resident, his television and other belongings had been destroyed by the floodwaters, revealing that he was unable to salvage any of his livestock.
Another affected resident also revealed that his household appliances had been damaged, calling for the need for urgent desilting of choked gutters.
Residents further expressed concern that no officials had visited the area to assess the damage, and they are appealing to government authorities and disaster management agencies to provide immediate relief support and also implement long-term measures to prevent other occurrences.
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