Prof. Nana Ama Brown Klutse, Chief Executive Officer of the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), has linked the recent flooding in Samreboi, Western Region, to weakened banks of the Tano River and disruptions to its natural flow caused largely by illegal mining. She explained that preliminary EPA assessments revealed severe damage to the riverbanks, leaving the area highly prone to flooding even after moderate rainfall.
Visiting the community with a technical team to engage residents and assess the disaster’s impact, Prof. Klutse cautioned that the situation could deteriorate further without urgent intervention. “It is largely because the Tano River, which runs by the community, had overflowed its bank. We have seen that the integrity of the bank is already compromised. Any further rain will cause another flooding,” she told Channel One News.
She explained that human activities, particularly illegal mining along the river course, have contributed significantly to the degradation of the river system and its capacity to contain excess water. To address the challenge, Prof. Klutse said the EPA is considering a combination of dredging works and structural reinforcement of the riverbanks, including the construction of concrete embankments.
“What EPA wants to do is not just to dredge and allow the flow; we also want to restore the banks. We want to build concrete walls to restore the banks,” she stated. She added that the proposed interventions are aimed at restoring the river’s natural flow and preventing future flooding incidents in the community.
The EPA says it will continue working with relevant agencies and stakeholders to implement long-term measures to protect affected communities and curb environmental degradation along the Tano River basin.
- Source: Akwasi Agyei Annim
