Environmental Protection Authority says $35m needed to fully restore Birim River

The Chief Executive Officer of the Environmental Protection Agency, Nana Ama Brown Klutse, has revealed that an estimated $35 million will be needed to fully rehabilitate the heavily polluted Birim River, which has suffered extensive damage from illegal mining activities.

Speaking to journalists during a pilot application of ionic nano copper technology at Kyebi-Adukrom in the Eastern Region on Tuesday, February 24, Prof. Klutse said early results show visible improvement in treated portions of the river. However, expanding the intervention across the entire waterway will require significant financial resources.

She explained that approximately $200,000 is required to procure enough of the technology to treat one kilometre of a flowing river. With the Birim River stretching about 175 kilometres, the total cost of restoration is estimated at around $35 million.

Despite promising early results, she stressed that sustained funding will be essential to restore the river to acceptable environmental standards.

The Birim River has experienced severe degradation in recent years due to illegal mining, which has compromised water quality, disrupted aquatic ecosystems, and reduced access to safe water for nearby communities.

The ionic nano copper treatment forms part of a broader national strategy aimed at rehabilitating polluted water bodies and strengthening long-term water resource management.