The Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana (PSGH) has urged the government to step up its fight against illegal mining, known locally as galamsey, after highlighting the serious public health and economic risks posed by the activity.
During the 90th Anniversary Annual General Meeting of the Society, President Pharm. Paul Owusu Donkor warned that pollution of water bodies through illegal mining exposes communities to health hazards and drives up the cost of providing safe water.
Donkor cited findings from the World Health Organization and the World Bank, noting that the World Bank’s 2020 Environmental Analysis estimated Ghana’s annual environmental degradation cost at $6.3 billion. He said that figure should prompt a reevaluation of what constitutes economic progress when it comes at the expense of the environment.
He urged the government to intensify sustained efforts against illegal mining, targeting not only the operators but also the financiers and protectors of the practice. The Society also called for the creation of lawful livelihoods to discourage people from turning to galamsey.
Protecting water bodies, he added, is vital to pharmaceutical manufacturing, which relies on reliable supplies of clean water.
PSGH’s appeal comes as the country grapples with the environmental and health fallout of widespread illegal mining, a problem that has attracted international attention.
