The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has disclosed that an estimated $35 million will be needed to fully restore the heavily polluted Birim River, which has suffered years of environmental damage from illegal mining.
Chief Executive Officer Prof. Nana Ama Brown Klutse made the revelation on February 24, 2026, during a pilot application of ionic nano copper technology at Kyebi-Adukrom in the Eastern Region.
According to Prof. Klutse, it costs about $200,000 to procure enough ionic nano copper solution to clean one kilometre of a flowing river. With the Birim River stretching approximately 175 kilometres, the total estimated cost of restoration stands at $35 million.
She noted that while the pilot intervention has already shown visible improvements in treated sections of the river, expanding the technology across its entire length will require substantial and sustained financial investment.
The Birim River has experienced significant degradation due to illegal mining activities, leading to deteriorating water quality, destruction of aquatic ecosystems, and reduced access to safe water for communities along its banks.
Prof. Klutse said the adoption of ionic nano copper technology forms part of a broader national strategy aimed at rehabilitating polluted water bodies and strengthening long-term water resource management across the country.