Officials from the Ghana Water Company have observed that eighty percent of the forest cover protecting the Barekese Dam has been destroyed, leaving the reservoir vulnerable to evaporation.

Encroachment onto the dam's buffer zone is escalating beyond control, resulting in disruptions to water distribution for eighty percent of Kumasi residents who rely on piped water from the dam.

Ashanti Regional Chief Manager overseeing production, Dr. Hanson Mensah-Akutteh, highlighted the drastic reduction in the dam's water volume due to farming activities and encroachment. This situation is already causing frequent water shortages in areas like Asokwa and Kwadaso.

“The forest cover that is supposed to protect the catchment area has been reduced by 80 percent. In other words, almost all the trees are gone, and the cover has turned into a bare land where farming activities are ongoing”, Ashanti Regional Chief Manager in-charge of Production, Dr Hanson Mensah-Akutteh said.

The dam's siltation has also halved its original water capacity, posing a severe threat to water availability in Kumasi.

Urgent action is needed to remove encroachers and protect the buffer zones.

Efforts to reforest the buffer zones are being hampered by farmers clearing land for agriculture.

The Ghana Water Company Limited is seeking support from local chiefs and the District Assembly to enforce laws against encroachment.

Nana Kusi Obuodom of Barekese emphasized the importance of enforcing laws to prevent encroachment on buffer zones.

Experts stress the necessity of maintaining forested riverbanks to prevent siltation and shrinkage. However, with ongoing encroachment on the Barekese dam buffer zone, the risk of water scarcity for Kumasi residents looms large.