Ghana at risk of running out of potable water – Former GWL MD warns

• Posted on April 28, 2026April 28, 2026
• by Nana Kwesi Coomson
• Comment

Dr. Clifford Braimah, former Managing Director of Ghana Water Limited, has warned that Ghana risks a severe shortage of potable water if urgent measures are not taken to curb pollution of the country’s water bodies.

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Speaking in an interview on the Citi Breakfast Show on Tuesday, April 28, Dr. Braimah cautioned that rising levels of heavy metals in water sources pose a serious long-term threat to national water security.

He stressed that while illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey, is often blamed for water pollution, it is not the sole cause of the problem.

According to him, several everyday human activities are steadily contaminating water bodies, and the cumulative impact could be devastating if not addressed through stronger environmental management and enforcement.

“It is true that we will soon risk running out of water. I keep on repeating that some of the heavy metals we find in our water do not necessarily come from galamsey. There are a lot of activities that are dangerous if we don’t improve.

“You go everywhere, and you see mechanics, electricians, etc. and they get everything out there and poorly dispose them off and when it rains, the heavy metals seep into our water system. So one critical thing is to clear our catchment areas.”