The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of Ghana has started testing an innovative ionic nano-copper water-cleaning technology on the polluted Birim River, part of efforts to address severe contamination from illegal mining (“galamsey”) and other pollutants. This pilot trial is aimed at evaluating whether the science-driven solution can help restore water quality in rivers heavily degraded by environmental damage.
According to the EPA, the test run on the Birim River will help authorities assess the effectiveness of the ionic nano-copper technology under real river conditions. Officials say the initiative could provide useful insights into how advanced technologies might be used to rehabilitate other polluted waterways across the country if successful.
The Birim River, like several major waterways in Ghana, has suffered from high levels of toxic contamination due to unregulated mining and industrial activity, harming aquatic life and making water unsafe for communities that depend on it.
EPA’s proposed ionic nano-copper application is part of broader efforts to adopt scientific approaches for environmental cleanup, building on previous laboratory research and international examples of similar technologies used elsewhere. Experts say the solution works by targeting and binding pollutants, including heavy metals, to help purify water, though pilot trials are needed to confirm performance in natural river environments.
The pilot is also expected to inform future strategies and funding needs for large-scale river cleanup across Ghana. The EPA has indicated that, if tests show positive results, similar technology could be extended to other significantly polluted rivers such as the Ankobra, Pra and Offin.
