The Project Manager of O'Africa, Francis Anipah, has described the growing involvement of children in illegal small-scale mining, "galamsey", as a "humanitarian crisis" that threatens the future of Ghana's children and undermines national development.He said children as young as eight were being exposed to mercury and other harmful substances, forced to abandon school and trade their childhoods for pickaxes in a desperate search for gold."They are not just missing out on education; they are being robbed of their innocence, their health, and their future," he warned.Mr Anipah made these remarks at the 2025 National NGO forum held in Accra yesterday on the theme: 'The Poisoned Playground: Ending Child Labour in Galamsey.'The forum, which coincided with the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, was organised by O'Africa and brought together stakeholders, community leaders, policymakers, educators, and the media to address the growing crisis of child labour and trafficking in mining communities.Recalling a past investigative collaboration with Tiger Eye P.I., Mr Anipah cited disturbing footage showing children knee-deep in mercury-laced mud, handling dangerous tools and sacrificing education for survival."These images remain seared in our national conscience," he said.He stressed that galamsey sites have become "poisoned playgrounds" not only environmental threats but a direct assault on children's rights."This is not just a legal issue it is a moral one," he added, urging stakeholders to act decisively to end the exploitation.Adding to the urgency, Prof.
Anthony Kwame Enimil, a Consultant in Infectious Diseases Pediatrics, warned that illegal mining is also exposing children to dangerous levels of toxic metals like mercury, arsenic, and lead.He shared a case of a four-year-old boy who accidentally drank mercury stored in a water bottle used at home.
The child, whose parents were involved in galamsey, required emergency surgery after mercury pellets were found in his intestines."He survived, but the long-term effects on his brain and organs may only become clear years later," Prof.
Enimil noted.He also revealed that crops such as tomatoes and lettuce grown near mining areas contain harmful levels of heavy metals, posing a silent but widespread public health risk. "We're unknowingly consuming contaminated food," he warned.Environmental studies presented at the forum showed alarming pollution levels in rivers and farmlands across affected regions, threatening biodiversity, agriculture, and rural livelihoods."This is self-inflicted," Prof.
