GoldBod Must Cover Water Treatment Costs, Not Ghanaians – Adomako Kissi

Former Anyaa Sowutuom MP, Dr. Dickson Adomako Kissi, has urged government to compel the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) to finance the treatment of polluted water rather than passing the cost to ordinary Ghanaians.

His call follows a proposal by Ghana Water Limited (GWL) to raise tariffs by 281%—from GH¢5.28 per cubic metre to GH¢20.09—to offset ballooning debts and the high expense of purifying water contaminated by illegal mining (galamsey).

Speaking on Breakfast Daily on Channel One TV, Tuesday, September 23, 2025, Dr. Adomako Kissi argued that GoldBod, which profits from buying gold from both legal and illegal sources, should bear the financial responsibility for the environmental damage.

“The GoldBod has made a huge amount of money, which they have flaunted. Why must I pay for the water treatment as a Ghanaian? The revenue from gold should be used to restore our water facilities. The true beneficiary of the destruction of our water bodies is the gold and mining industry,” he stated.

He criticised the proposed tariff hike as unfair to consumers who played no role in the pollution.

“The idea that Ghana Water Company wishes to increase tariffs that I and you have nothing to do with in terms of damage to our water, I think it is wrong. All the gold, whether legal or illegal, goes to GoldBod, and they should be made to pay for all the water damages in this country,” he added.

GWL, however, maintains that galamsey-related pollution, foreign exchange pressures, and soaring costs of imported equipment and chemicals have left the company with no choice but to seek a major tariff adjustment.