The Reverend Dr. Worlanyo Mensah, an economist, says Ghana's economy could suffer significant losses as illegal mining continues to contaminate water sources with harmful chemicals, leading to serious health risks for human resources.
Dr. Worlanyo warned that if urgent action was not taken, the country could face a decline in productivity, increased healthcare costs, and reduced economic growth.
He said illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey activities, had become a major threat to public health due to the use of dangerous chemicals such as mercury and cyanide in mining processes, adding that these substances soak into rivers and groundwater, polluting sources that millions of Ghanaians rely on for drinking, farming, and fishing.
The long-term health consequences, he said, included kidney and liver diseases, respiratory problems, and various forms of cancer. "Once the health condition of Ghanaians is affected, it also affects the productivity capacity of the country because most people that are supposed to be working will now be battling with illnesses, and the few that will be left to work will not be able to generate enough revenue for the country, and that will affect the fortunes of the state," he stated.
