The Executive Director of the Food Systems Technology and Nutrition Department at the University of Education, Winneba (UEW), Ekpor Anyimah-Ackah, has called on the government to declare a state of emergency in areas severely affected by illegal mining (galamsey), warning that the country is facing a silent but deadly public health crisis caused by heavy metal contamination.
Speaking on the Asaase Breakfast Show on Monday (6 October), Anyimah-Ackah said the use of cyanide and mercury in artisanal mining has polluted Ghana’s soil and water bodies, with toxic elements like arsenic, cadmium, and mercury now found in staple foods such as cassava, yam, tomatoes, and gari.
“These substances tend to accumulate in our food chain. Our studies show that many of the foods we eat contain high levels of heavy metals. The threat is silent, but it can cause cancer and other long-term health problems,” he cautioned.
He noted that the contamination extends beyond mining communities, posing a national risk since food from affected regions is transported and consumed across the country.
“Even people in Accra and Kumasi are at risk because much of the food they consume comes from galamsey areas,” he added.
Dr Anyimah-Ackah proposed simple household measures to reduce exposure, such as allowing water to settle before use and using specific rice boiling techniques to lower arsenic levels by up to 50 percent. However, he emphasised that these steps are temporary reliefs and that the government must take decisive action.
“The constitution mandates the president to protect our lives. Declaring a state of emergency in galamsey hotspots will give the government the legal power and efficiency needed to deal with this menace,” he stressed.
He warned that the continued pollution of Ghana’s food and water systems is not only an environmental issue but also a threat to life and national security, urging leadership at all levels to treat the matter with urgency.
Source: asaaseradio.com
