Western Regional Minister orders urgent protection of Daboase water treatment plant buffer zones

Western Regional Minister Joseph Nelson has directed the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) to secure buffer zones around the Daboase Water Treatment Plant. This action aims to prevent further encroachment on protected areas.

Concerns have risen over landowners infringing on these zones. Many claim they are unaware of the boundaries. During a recent tour of the facility, the Minister instructed local chiefs to halt all planned activities in these areas.

The Daboase plant is part of a €70 million water expansion project. This project was launched in May 2022 by the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources and GWCL. Austrian construction firm Strabag leads the project, which aims to provide 22 million gallons of potable water daily to Sekondi-Takoradi and nearby communities.

Strabag reports that the project is 86% complete. It is expected to finish by November 7, 2025. The Daboase plant was built in the late 1960s with a capacity of six million gallons per day. Alongside it, the Inchaban facility produces four million gallons daily.

Both plants struggle to meet growing water demands in the twin-city area. Illegal mining along the Pra River worsens this issue by increasing water turbidity. As a result, output has dropped to just above 16,000 gallons per day.

Gideon Asare Annor, GWCL's Western Regional Production Manager, noted that encroachment threatens sustainable water production, especially during dry seasons. Minister Joseph Nelson stressed that ignorance cannot compromise residents' health and well-being.

He stated that protecting buffer zones is essential for preserving water quality and ensuring long-term investment viability.