The Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana (PSGH) has urged the government to classify illegal mining, known locally as “galamsey,” as a public health threat, citing its growing impact on the pharmaceutical industry.
Speaking on the sidelines of the Society’s 90th anniversary celebration, its president Paul Owusu Donkor said the effects of illegal mining are extending beyond environmental damage to directly affect pharmaceutical production.
He said contamination of water sources linked to galamsey activities has forced manufacturers to incur higher costs to meet required standards.
“We spend a lot more because of the extra steps and processes we need to take to ensure that our water is of pharmaceutical quality,” he said.
Donkor called for urgent action, stressing that addressing the issue requires a coordinated national response involving all stakeholders.
“Galamsey affects us even at the pharmaceutical level, and we call on all of us to deal with it as best as we can and as quickly as possible,” he said.
“We join other Civil Society Organisations in calling on government to treat the menace of galamsey as a public health threat, something we must all be committed to eliminating from our body politic and the socio-economic fabric of the country.”
Illegal mining has been a persistent challenge in Ghana, polluting water bodies and degrading land, with growing concerns about its long-term health and economic consequences.
The Society’s call adds to increasing pressure on authorities to adopt a more aggressive and coordinated response to curb the activity.
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