Mining Is Causing Water, Sanitation Problems at Prestea Huni Valley – MCE 

Report by Joseph Nana Yaw COBBINA
The MCE for Prestea Huni Valley Hon Isaac Dasmani emphasized the need to address the ongoing
problem of mining in the municipality and how it has created sanitation challenges which was creating an
unhealthy lifestyle.
According to him, enabling the communities in the Prestea Huni Valley to gain access to clean water,
hygienic sewage systems to building proper toilets in the municipality and supporting hygiene education
in rural communities was a huge mission of his.
Prestea Huni Valley is a major mining hub in Ghana.
He stated that they were working tirelessly to provide water as well as sanitation programs to help ensure
that the homes they build had safe, decent facilities for a family to stay healthy and be able to live their
lives to their fullest.
He also explained that there had been numerous calls on the reconstitution of a town council but
emphasized that the solution now was not that but all that the state wanted was an attitudinal change.
The global spread of Cholera is an important reminder of the critical importance of access to clean water,
sanitation and hygiene.
Speaking in an interview the Municipal Chief Executive of Prestea Huni Valley, Hon Isaac Dasmani
emphasized that there were more than 1.4 million people who tragically die annually from diseases
associated with lack of access to safe drinking water, insufficient sanitation, and poor hygiene.
“Billions of people fall victim to these diseases due to the lack of a protected source of drinking water, a
proper toilet or latrine and hand-washing facilities with soap,” he said. "This is why in Prestea,
stakeholders are working hand-in-hand with the people to provide adequate education on the importance
of access to safe, drinkable water as well as effective sanitation and hygiene."