Officials of the two countries in a group photo after the meeting
Ministries of Lands and Natural Resources, met a high powered delegation from Cote D’ivoire, led by the Ivorian Minister for water and Forest, Laurent Tchagba to discuss ways the two countries can resolve transboundary issues on river pollution regarding the Tano and Bia rivers which also flows through Ivorian waters.
Representatives from the Sanitation and Water Resources, Defence and Environment Science Technology and Innovation ministries were also present at the meeting.
Ghana’s Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel A. Jinapor who co-chaired the meeting with the Sanitation and Water Resources Minister, Cecilia Abena Dapaah informed the Ivorian delegation that there has been a lot of challenges in protecting the country’s river bodies, however government has not relented for once as the President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo keeps waging war against illegal miners in the country.
Mr. Jinapor who also spoke on behalf of the Defence Minister, said the government has adopted a two-pronged approach to fighting illegal Mining, which is the main source of pollution of the country’s riverbodies.
The two-pronged approach which he mentioned to be law enforcement and reformation, has seen to the declaration of river bodies as red zones to mining and also authorizing the involvement of the Military on Operation Halt, an initiative geared towards riding the rivers off illegal miners.
The Sanitation and Water Resources Minister, Cecilia Abena Dapaah on her part, noted that water is very central to the well-being of people around the world and not only Ghana and Cote D’Ivoire, therefore it is pertinent to take up the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 6 which advocates for clean water and sanitation for all.
She also hoped that this bilateral meeting will help both countries take cognisance of the far reaching effects of a waterless world and make concrete decisions that will help both countries and the world at large.
The leader of the Ivorian Delegation and Minister for Water and Forests, Cote D’Ivoire in his submission expressed his gratitude for a warm reception from all participating Ministries.
He said the issue of water is important in the history of both countries as it binds them in one way or the other and hoped that together they will be able to confer on issues and resolve the common challenge.
By Jamila Akweley Okertchiri