Galamsey’s Toxic Impact: 30 Tons of Mercury Entering Ghana’s Rivers Annually, Says EPA Official
Dr. George Manful of the Frimpong Manso Institute has sounded a stark warning over the escalating use of mercury in illegal mining warning that its pervasive impact on human health and the environment poses a severe long-term threat to Ghana’s future.
In an interview on Joy FM the former Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) official described the scale of mercury contamination in the country’s waterways as “alarming,” with the chemical persisting in water systems for centuries.
“The use of mercury in rivers, which millions rely on for drinking water and daily activities, is extremely dangerous,” Dr. Manful said, noting that the neurotoxin can remain active in water bodies for up to 1,000 years, with a half-life of 444 years.
He underscored that for every gram of gold extracted, miners are using one to two grams of mercury. With Ghana’s small-scale mining sector producing over 1.2 million ounces of gold annually, this could mean that up to 30 tons of mercury is being discharged into the country’s rivers each year.
Dr. Manful highlighted the severe contamination of Ghana’s major rivers, such as the Ankobra, Pra, and Birim, whose water is now undrinkable due to heavy mercury pollution.
“In some villages, people are consuming water that looks like chocolate milk. It is deeply concerning,” he remarked.
The public health implications are equally troubling. Mercury, a potent neurotoxin, poses serious risks, particularly to communities in mining regions.
“Mercury poisoning has been an unresolved issue for decades. I’ve been involved with this issue since I started at the EPA over 40 years ago, and yet the problem remains,” he lamented. The contamination affects not just water, but also fish and crops, slowly poisoning the food chain.
Despite the severity of the issue, Dr. Manful remains optimistic that it can be addressed if robust and decisive action is taken.
“We can solve this problem, but it requires a firm commitment to act,” he said, warning that if mercury use persists, Ghana faces severe and long-lasting consequences. “The situation is dire, and we are slowly poisoning ourselves. The time to act is now.”
