Accra: The Paediatric Society of Ghana has raised alarm over the devastating impact of illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, on the lives and health of children across mining communities in the country. It called on the government to take all necessary measures to halt the activities of galamsey, due to its dire consequences on children's health.
According to Ghana News Agency, Dr. Hilda Mantebea Boye, President of the Paediatric Society of Ghana, highlighted the urgent need to address the galamsey menace due to its impact on children's health and the environment. The menace is not only destroying water bodies and the environment but also claiming young lives, causing school dropouts, and exposing children to life-threatening diseases.
Dr. Boye explained that several reports had emerged about children drowning in abandoned mining pits filled with water, which are often mistaken for dry ground due to weeds covering their surfaces. Some of these pits are left open after the miners leave, and the children sometimes play around them, resulting in tragic accidents.
The Paediatrician at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital also expressed concern about the growing number of children dropping out of school to join illegal mining operations, lured by the promise of quick money to support themselves and their families. This not only threatens their education but also their health and future.
She noted that residents in galamsey-affected areas now struggle to access clean water, increasing diarrheal diseases and other waterborne infections. Health professionals have observed more cases of diarrhoea due to the contaminated water people are forced to drink.
The Paediatric Society President added that pollution from mining chemicals such as mercury, arsenic, and lead could cause severe long-term health effects, including neurological disorders, autism, skin diseases, cancers, and kidney or liver failure. Dr. Boye referred to reports from the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, which recorded over 2,000 cases of kidney disease within the first half of 2025, a figure she described as worrying.
Although she cautioned that not all cases could be directly linked to galamsey, she indicated that environmental pollution was a likely contributing factor. A recent study found that 500 placentas of women who had miscarried contained high levels of mercury, particularly in areas around Sefwi and along the Pra and Ankobra Rivers, heavily polluted by illegal mining.
Dr. Boye stressed that Ghana could not wait for decades of scientific evidence before taking action. She emphasized the need to act swiftly to prevent further harm from polluted water, soil, and food. The impact of galamsey extends beyond mining communities, as contaminated food and water are transported and consumed across the country, putting every Ghanaian at risk.
Dr. Boye called on the government to take decisive and sustained measures to stop illegal mining while providing alternative livelihoods for people engaged in the activity. She urged Ghanaians to unite in ending galamsey, stating that collective action is necessary to address the existential threat before it's too late.
