In Kumasi, Ghana, author and media executive Jimmy Aglah has seen his novel When the River Testified receive formal approval from the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NaCCA). The council has listed the book as a supplementary reader for junior and senior high schools, confirming it meets its educational standards.
The story, set in the fictional town of Asempa Nkwanta, follows broadcast journalist Kofi Densu as he investigates a river that has been poisoned by illegal mining, or galamsey. Scientific tests in the novel reveal elevated levels of mercury and lead in water and food crops, mirroring real‑world concerns in Ghana.
Aglah says the novel is designed to move the conversation beyond enforcement and political debate. “We cannot wait until our children become adults before teaching them why the rivers matter, why forests matter and why individual choices have consequences for entire communities,” he said. “The fight for our environment must also be fought in the classroom, in the imagination and in the values we pass on to the next generation.”
By presenting environmental issues through characters and moral choices, Aglah believes fiction can engage young readers more effectively than statistics alone. The book also aligns with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals 4.7 and 6, which call for sustainable lifestyles, responsible citizenship and clean water access.
Teachers can use the novel for guided discussions, literature lessons, reading clubs and environmental clubs, encouraging students to interrogate competing interests and propose community solutions. Aglah hopes the story will help learners become critical thinkers and responsible citizens.
With NaCCA approval secured, Aglah is now working with publishers and organisations to produce and distribute the book nationwide, ensuring it reaches schools and young readers across Ghana.
