Ghana, the dramatic fallout from illegal mining: poisoning our water in the quest for GOLD! [Par Rachel Gyabaah]

In the quest for Ghana’s gold, a much more precious resource is destroyed: water. Viable rivers and forests that once supported communities and the country as a whole are now contaminated with deadly mercury and other toxic substances.

The destruction of forest reserves, wildlife and aquatic life continues unabated. These devastating consequences of illegal mining, or “galamsey”, pose existential threats to our very survival and the sustainable development of Ghana. While the impact on the environment and human health is undeniable, the hidden costs of this devastation extend even further into the pockets of all Ghanaians

The Poison for Gold campaign, launched by TrustAfrica and Multimedia Group as part of the RECLAIM Sustainability! program, funded by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has drawn attention to the real causes of the galamsey threat. The campaign reveals that it is not just about mining gold, but also about preserving an entire ecosystem, securing livelihoods and ensuring access to clean, safe water for generations future. One of the main goals of this initiative is to improve alternative livelihoods in mining communities while advocating for responsible and innovative small-scale mining.

Mercury: the silent killer

One of the most alarming aspects revealed by the campaign is the widespread use of toxic substances and heavy metals in illegal mining operations, primarily mercury. This heavy metal is used to extract gold from the ore, but in the process it seeps into rivers and soil, with a strong tendency to contaminate water sources and, subsequently, the food chains grown in these areas and in neighboring communities.

The Poison for Gold campaign, through investigative journalism and community engagement, has established how communities dependent on rivers such as the Pra, Ankobra and Offin for drinking water and fishing are slowly poisoned by mercury and other heavy metals. This has led to serious health complications, including neurological damage, kidney failure, respiratory problems and even birth defects. Awareness and media awareness campaigns, as well as testimonies from affected communities, highlight the devastating effects of illegal mining on Ghana’s most vulnerable populations. Other media reports have confirmed that many women in these Galamsey communities are currently experiencing miscarriages.

The increasing cost of water treatment

Illegal mining has turned some of Ghana’s most important rivers into toxic wastelands. La Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL), responsible for providing safe and clean drinking water to millions of people, now faces the costly task of treating heavily polluted water due to the Galamsey menace.

Due to this contamination, water treatment plants along the Pra and Birim rivers are forced to use up to five times more chemicals to purify drinking water, increasing the cost of treatment. This increased cost is passed on to consumers, resulting in higher water bills. The financial burden is ultimately borne by Ghanaians, including the poor and vulnerable whose water sources have been destroyed in the relentless pursuit of gold. Beyond these additional expenses, there is no guarantee that the water is completely safe to drink or free of harmful substances like mercury, which can lead to long-term health problems like neurological damage and kidney failure. According to recent reports, mercury can remain in water for several years.

The price of water compared to that of gold

The irony is bitter: while illegal miners extract gold that often leaves the country for foreign markets, Ghanaians have to pay more for drinking water. It’s like a golden apple is plucked from people’s hands, leaving behind a poisoned well. This dominant cycle, where the extraction of one resource leads to the degradation of another, reflects a classic scenario in the animal kingdom where a predator hunts excessively, devastating the ecosystem in the process.

In this analogy, illegal miners are like predators, relentlessly pursuing gold without regard for the balance of the ecosystem. When predators overhunt, the prey population collapses, destabilizing the environment. Similarly, Galamsey is destabilizing Ghana’s water systems, affecting not only the environment, but also the country’s health, food security and economy.

An imminent crisis

The financial cost of treating polluted water is only a fraction of the dangers Ghana faces. The Poison for Gold campaign also highlighted the devastating effects of this pollution on agriculture and food security. Farmers rely on these rivers to irrigate their crops, but clean, safe water is becoming scarcer and more toxic, leading to falling agricultural yields. This in turn affects Ghana’s foreign exchange as algae pollution also threatens cash crops like cocoa. Rising food prices are already a problem and this trend is expected to get worse. The destruction of agricultural land through illegal mining reduces agricultural productivity, moving the country further away from Sustainable Development Goal 2 (Zero Hunger).

Climate change is making the situation even worse. The effects of algae pollution compound the impacts of erratic rainfall, droughts and floods, which already threaten food production and security. With food insecurity increasing, Ghana’s goal of achieving SDG 2 could be reversed, putting vulnerable populations at risk of hunger.

The human cost of algae pollution

Beyond the environmental and financial implications, a human tragedy is unfolding. Mercury used in gold mining seeps into rivers and soils, and enters the food chain through fish and crops. The Poison for Gold campaign has revealed heartbreaking stories of children born with birth defects, adults suffering from unexplained illnesses, and communities lacking access to safe, clean drinking water.

Ghana’s laws, such as the Minerals and Mining Act of 2006 (Act 703), clearly prohibit illegal mining activities, but enforcement is weak. Section 93 of the law specifically prohibits unlicensed mining, but the lucrative nature of Galamsey, fueled by high global gold prices, allows it to thrive.

It is currently estimated that about 60% of Ghana’s water bodies have been polluted due to illegal mining activities. The need to address the effects of Galamsey cannot be overemphasized. The sooner we act, the better.

A call to action

It is clear that the fight against illegal mining cannot be won through law enforcement alone. The Poison for Gold campaign advocates a holistic approach, involving all stakeholders – government, traditional leaders, civil society, media, local communities and Galamsey industry stakeholders – on a sustainable basis. As global attention turns to climate change mitigation in the COP negotiations, Ghana’s fight against illegal mining is part of a broader debate. The costs of climate inaction – rising temperatures, increased pollution and degradation of ecosystems – are already being felt. Galamsey accelerates environmental degradation, making it more difficult for Ghana to meet its climate commitments and increasing its vulnerability to climate-related disasters.

To turn the tide, Ghana must begin to view the Galamsey threat as a violation of basic human rights to clean and safe water, and as an affront to the Constitution for failing to protect lives, property and the environment. .

• Strict enforcement of mining laws: crack down on illegal mining, targeting both miners and their financiers;

• Invest in alternative livelihoods: promote sustainable employment such as agriculture and ecotourism to provide alternatives to illegal mining;

• Public-private partnerships: collaborate to invest in water treatment and regulate mining pollution at source;

• Community empowerment: involve communities in monitoring illegal mining, using success stories to inspire others;

• Rehabilitation of water bodies: restore contaminated ecosystems through reforestation and purification;

• Maintain partnerships: hold stakeholders accountable;

• Solve political financing: tackle the involvement of political elites and illegal financial flows (IFFs) in the financing of Galamsey.

Conclusion: a future worth fighting for

The question of where gold from illegal mining ends up must be answered to avoid a mineral curse or blood diamond scenario in Ghana. The fight against illegal mining is essential not only for the protection of the environment but also for the future of the nation. The escalating cost of water treatment is a symptom of a deeper crisis that threatens livelihoods and the stability of society. Ghana faces a clear choice: act now to restore ecosystems and protect future generations, or continue to allow illegal mining that destroys water sources and increases the cost of living. Water is life, not gold.

Par The editorial staffEditorial Committee – Casablanca