The Paediatric Society of Ghana has issued a dire warning about the country’s impending water importation crisis if illegal mining activities, commonly known as galamsey, continue unabated.
Dr. Hilda Manteebea Boye, the Society’s President, sounded the alarm, emphasizing the devastating impact of galamsey on Ghana’s health and water resources.
he expressed deep concern about the rising number of kidney diseases and failures among children, directly linked to the pollution caused by these harmful practices.
Dr. Boye highlighted the destruction of water bodies and food contamination as major threats to the health and well-being of Ghana’s children and communities.
She called upon stakeholders, particularly politicians, to unite and take immediate action to combat the galamsey menace.
The Paediatric Society stressed the urgency of addressing the situation, warning that Ghana’s future depends on it. Dr. Boye stated, “We are seeing more new developmental problems that the children are having, including kidney diseases and failures associated with the pollution. People are not getting safe food to eat, there’s destruction of the water bodies, and children falling into pits.”
She continued, “We want the small-scale mining to be stopped. We want the political parties, all of them, to commit to stopping this menace now because we are just afraid that in no time we may have to import water into the country.”
The Society’s concerns are echoed by the broader population, as many fear the long-term consequences of galamsey on Ghana’s health, environment, and economy.
