Asiakwa, a prominent market town in the Eastern Region, is now at the center of a growing water crisis that has prompted strong calls to action from local leaders, including its Member of Parliament, Dr. Kingsley Agyemang.
Speaking in a media interview, Dr. Agyemang decried the devastating environmental toll of illegal mining, known locally as galamsey, which he says is ravaging vital water bodies such as the Supon and Afrancho rivers. The pollution and drying up of these sources, he warned, have left communities in Abuakwa South battling for access to clean water.
“Asiakwa, despite being the municipality’s main trading center, has no running water,” Dr. Agyemang lamented. “Even my father, who is the chief farmer there, relies solely on sachet water to mix pesticides for his crops. That should tell you how severe the situation is.”
Beyond personal stories, the MP revealed that entire households and schools now depend on long treks to access mechanized boreholes, many of which he says were installed through personal interventions.
“This is not a partisan issue,” he emphasized. “We all have a role to play in preserving our environment. Galamsey is crippling our natural resources, and the cost is being borne by children, farmers, and even animals that now struggle to find water.”
Determined to lead a sustainable response, Dr. Agyemang shared plans to develop alternative water sources and ramp up community engagement to raise awareness about the consequences of illegal mining. He stressed the need for both legal enforcement and grassroots cooperation in restoring water security to the region.
“No one is above the law,” he stated. “We must hold ourselves accountable and take ownership of our land, our rivers, and our future.”
As Abuakwa South contends with the fallout of environmental degradation, its MP is doubling down on efforts to confront the crisis—one borehole, one conversation, and one community at a time.