The fight against illegal mining, locally known as galamsey, has drawn criticism from various sectors in Ghana, but it seems the effects of the activity stretch far beyond the country’s borders.
A US-based licensed Environmental Engineer, Dr. Juliet Ohemeng-Ntiamoah, has raised an alarming concern about how galamsey’s harmful consequences are reaching the diaspora, especially through food exports.
Speaking on Joy News’ Newsfile on October 5, 2024, Dr. Ohemeng-Ntiamoah, who specializes in bioenergy and wastewater process engineering, shared her insights on how the activities of illegal miners are impacting not only those living in Ghana but also those abroad who still consume Ghanaian products.
She disclosed a disturbing conversation with a colleague at the Ghana Standards Authority. “I was talking to a friend who works at Ghana Standards Board recently, and she told me that they tested yams being exported, and they had high levels of heavy metals,” she explained. “This is a call to those in the diaspora who think that galamsey is only happening in Ghana—the effects of galamsey are coming to our doorstep, even in the US.”
Dr. Ohemeng-Ntiamoah highlighted that although she has lived in the United States for about a decade, she still frequents African markets for Ghanaian food items. However, she now fears that some of these products might be contaminated due to the uncontrolled mining activities that have polluted water sources and soils in Ghana.
“I wanted to use this platform to highlight that even those of us in the US who still patronise Ghanaian food in our African markets are not spared from the effects of galamsey,” she added, emphasizing the far-reaching nature of the crisis.
This recent disclosure comes at a time when protests are gaining momentum across Ghana, with citizens demanding accountability and stronger measures to combat illegal mining. The government has been urged to implement stricter policies and increase enforcement in mining communities to reduce the ecological damage.
Galamsey has been a hot-button issue in Ghana, with the destruction of forests and water bodies causing widespread outrage. Despite efforts by successive governments to tackle the menace. The contamination of food crops is one of the many consequences of galamsey, as heavy metals from mining operations often leach into the soil, affecting agricultural production.
As discussions about galamsey intensify, the government is now faced with the need to not only address the domestic and consequences of this ongoing environmental disaster, but also the international implications.