A Medical Doctor and Toxicologist, Dr. Bright Boafo Boamah, has indicated that restoring Ghana’s water bodies polluted by illegal mining activities, commonly referred to as galamsey, may take 10 to 15 years.
During his appearance on JoyNews’ Newsfile program on Saturday, October 12, Dr. Boamah underscored the significant environmental damage caused by galamsey and the extensive timeframe necessary for recovery.
He explained that the use of toxic chemicals and heavy metals like mercury and cyanide has severely contaminated the nation’s rivers and streams, complicating the restoration process.
Even with immediate action, he warned that ecological recovery would require long-term strategies, including ongoing monitoring and remediation.
Additionally, Dr. Boamah pointed out the health risks associated with the contaminated water bodies, noting that both humans and wildlife are at risk of toxic exposure.
He called for stricter enforcement of environmental laws and urged the government to adopt sustainable solutions to prevent further pollution of the country’s natural resources.
In his closing remarks, Dr. Boamah stressed the importance of all stakeholders in the fight against galamsey, warning that inaction could lead to devastating consequences for future generations.
He appealed to civil society and the public to support efforts aimed at restoring the nation’s water bodies and safeguarding the environment.
Dr. Boamah also mentioned that the presence of heavy metals contributes to antimicrobial resistance, complicating treatment as many antibiotics are proving ineffective due to poor usage and prescriptions.
He concluded that without immediate action, certain water bodies may be beyond restoration, emphasizing the urgency of addressing the issue.
“Currently, most of the antibiotics are not responding because normally it’s due to poor use of antibiotics or prescriptions, but it has also been shown that this heavy metal induces some antimicrobial resistance.”
“So we are not really dealing with a very simple issue and even if we should look at how to restore the water bodies and if we should start now, I think somewhere between 10-15 [Years] to be able to do this and I know there are some water bodies that cannot be restored,” he stated.