The Chief Executive Officer of the Environmental Protection Authority, Nana Ama Brown Klutse, has disclosed that an estimated $35 million will be required to fully restore the heavily polluted Birim River.

Prof. Klutse made the revelation during a pilot application of ionic nano copper technology at Kyebi-Adukrom in the Eastern Region on Tuesday, February 24, 2026.

Cost of restoration

She explained that while the pilot intervention has already produced visible improvements in sections of the river that were treated, scaling the technology across the river’s entire stretch would demand substantial financial resources.

According to her, it costs approximately $200,000 to procure sufficient ionic nano copper technology to clean one kilometre of a flowing river. Given that the Birim River spans about 175 kilometres, the estimated total restoration cost amounts to $35 million.

She noted that although early results from the pilot have been promising, sustained and dedicated funding will be necessary to restore the river to acceptable environmental standards.

Impact of illegal mining

The Birim River has experienced significant degradation in recent years 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 added that 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.