Paediatric Society of Ghana urges immediate halt to galamsey over devastating impact on children’s health and environment

The Paediatric Society of Ghana (PSG) has called for the immediate cessation of illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, warning of its severe consequences on children’s health, the environment, and the nation’s future.

In a statement jointly signed by Dr Hilda Mantebea Boye, PSG President, and Dr Gabrielle Obeng-Koranteng, General Secretary, the Society described galamsey as both an environmental disaster and a public health catastrophe, posing an existential threat to Ghana. It highlighted escalating environmental destruction, including poisoned rivers, ruined farmlands, and communities contaminated with heavy metals such as mercury.

The PSG emphasised that children are particularly vulnerable to these toxic substances, which can cause multi-organ damage affecting the liver, kidneys, brain, and heart, and may lead to cancers, congenital abnormalities, and preventable deaths. Exposure to contaminated soil, air, and food threatens their developing brains, nervous systems, and immune systems.

The Society also condemned the widespread use of child labour in galamsey operations, linking it to poverty and limited educational opportunities in affected communities. PSG underscored that poisoning water sources constitutes a war crime under the Geneva Convention, warning that Ghana’s food and water supplies are at risk of irreversible contamination.

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PSG called on the government and stakeholders to take decisive action, including halting galamsey activities, providing health screenings and care for affected children and communities, launching public awareness campaigns, punishing perpetrators of child labour, and undertaking environmental restoration projects.

The Society pledged to support the fight against galamsey by developing educational materials, training healthcare professionals to identify and treat affected children, conducting community toxicity screenings, and collaborating with research partners, traditional leaders, and civil society organisations.

In a rallying appeal, PSG urged health workers, community leaders, parents, students, teachers, and civil society to join the advocacy against galamsey, declaring: “Enough is enough! No water, no future! End galamsey now!”