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GHANA

In a study conducted by the Ghana's Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), it was found that industries in Ghana are polluting country's rivers and lakes with millions of tonnes of toxic wastewater. The EPA found that 22 million cubic metres of wastewater is discharged each year, destroying freshwater ecosystems.

The Chemu and Korle Lagoons in the district of Greater Accra are the worst hit areas, said EPA official George Manful. He says the food and beverages industry is responsible for five million cubic metres of waste each year, while the chemical industry generates 500,000 cubic wastewater each year. The EPA has urged the country's major industries to curb the practice of dumping wastewater. Either firms need to set up individual treatment plants or the government should step in and build a centralised plant to take care of the waste, Manful said.

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