The National President of the Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana (PFAG), Wepia Awal Adugwala, has questioned government’s commitment to the fight against illegal mining (galamsey), citing its destructive impact on water bodies, forest reserves, farmlands, and human health.
Speaking on Ultimate FM, Mr. Adugwala lamented that vast stretches of cocoa, tomato, and plantain farms, as well as aquatic habitats, have been destroyed by galamsey operators.
He warned that Ghana’s annual food import bill—already exceeding US\$3.5 billion—risks rising even further if urgent and stronger action is not taken to curb the menace.
Citing a recent study by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Pure Earth, he revealed that mercury, arsenic, and other toxic heavy metals have contaminated Ghana’s soils, water bodies, food systems, and air. This, he stressed, poses a national public health crisis affecting both humans and livestock.
According to Mr. Adugwala, the regions most affected by galamsey activities include Ashanti, Eastern, Central, Western, Western North, and Savannah, making the issue a nationwide threat.
“Farmers are suffering. Some now carry barrels of water over long distances just to irrigate and spray their crops. It is heartbreaking, because God in His wisdom blessed us with abundant natural resources, but greed and selfishness are destroying the land,” he lamented.
Mr. Adugwala further warned that if decisive steps are not taken, Ghana could become over-reliant on imported food products, placing enormous strain on the economy and worsening the plight of vulnerable citizens.
He also raised concerns about the health implications, noting that in recent years, Ghana has recorded an alarming number of babies born with deformities and young people suffering diseases previously common only among the elderly.
He questioned the accountability gap, asking, “Who should be held responsible for this devastation—the illegal miners, the regulators, or successive governments that have failed to act?”
Mr. Adugwala called on government, regulators, and stakeholders to adopt a holistic and united approach to end what he described as “ungodly practices” before the nation’s future is completely compromised.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh /Emmanuel Anyam
