Convener of the Coalition Against Illegal Mining, Ken Ashigbey, has called for the adoption of the “polluter pays” principle to address the Ghana Water Company Limited’s (GWCL) proposal for a 280 percent increase in water tariffs.
Mr. Ashigbey argued that the adjustment should not be applied uniformly nationwide. Instead, he said, higher tariffs should be targeted at areas where illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey has severely polluted rivers and water bodies, forcing GWCL to spend more on purification.
He explained that such a targeted approach would foster accountability, encourage communities to take greater responsibility for protecting natural resources, and deter harmful mining practices that threaten both water security and public health.
“Those who pollute must bear the cost of cleaning up the mess they create. It is unfair to make innocent consumers pay for the damage caused by galamsey,” he said.
The Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) is currently reviewing the GWCL’s proposal, along with other utility submissions, as part of the 2025–2030 tariff determination process.
The review comes at a time when the utility company has raised alarm over rising operational costs linked to illegal mining, which has clogged treatment plants with silt and chemicals, raising the cost of delivering potable water.
Environmentalists and civil society groups have long warned that galamsey poses a double threat, degrading ecosystems while imposing hidden costs on households, government, and industry.
Mr. Ashigbey reiterated that failure to adopt stronger deterrents like the “polluter pays” principle would only embolden destructive practices and worsen Ghana’s water crisis.
