Accra, Oct 23, GNA – The Paediatric Society of Ghana (PSG) has issued a strong call for the immediate cessation of illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey, due to its devastating impact on children’s health, the environment, and the nation’s future.
The Society described the galamsey menace as both an environmental disaster and a public health catastrophe, warning that it posed an existential threat to Ghana’s survival.
In a statement jointly signed and issued by Dr Hilda Mantebea Boye, President and Dr Gabrielle Obeng- Koranteng, General Secretary, said it was alarmed by the escalating destruction of Ghana’s environment, including the poisoning of rivers, destruction of farmlands, and contamination of communities with heavy metals like mercury.
These toxic substances, it said, had been linked to severe health risks, especially for children, who are more vulnerable due to their rapid growth and increased absorption of harmful chemicals.
It also indicated that heavy metal poisoning caused damage to vital organs such as the liver, kidneys, brain, and heart, and is associated with cancers, congenital abnormalities, and even preventable deaths.
On impact of galamsey on children and communities, the PSG indicated that children were particularly at risk because they were exposed to contaminated soil, air, and food, which can harm their developing brains, nervous systems, and immune systems.
“Children are susceptible to dangerous chemicals that can damage the growing brain and nervous system and impair learning, immune system dysfunction, and serious short and long-term multi-organ system impact,” the statement stressed.
It condemned the pervasive use of child labour in galamsey operations, attributing it to poverty and limited educational opportunities in affected communities.
“The Paediatric Society of Ghana asserts that poisoning water sources is classified as a higher war crime under the Geneva Convention [Additional Protocol I (1977), Article 54(2)],” the Society warned.
The statement also underscored the broader implications of galamsey, warning that Ghana’s food and water supplies were at risk of irreversible contamination, citing the Geneva Convention, which classified the poisoning of water sources as a war crime, and urged all Ghanaians to take responsibility for reversing the damage.
It, therefore, called on the government and all stakeholders to take decisive measures to end galamsey, including immediate cessation of galamsey activities, health screenings and care for children and communities affected by heavy metal poisoning, embarking on awareness campaigns to educate the public on the health risks of galamsey.
Additionally, it demanded punitive measures against perpetrators of child labour at galamsey sites and environmental restoration efforts to rehabilitate polluted ecosystems.
The PSG also pledged its support in the fight against the menace by developing educational materials on its health impacts, training healthcare professionals to identify and treat affected children, and collaborating with experts to screen communities for toxicity-related health problems.
Also, it said it would work with other partners and agencies to carry out research into the health impact of galamsey and other environmental hazards on children, as well as collaborate with other influence-interest groups and traditional leaders to fight against the canker.
“The Paediatric Society of Ghana calls on all health workers, community leaders, parents, students, teachers and all civil society organisations to amplify our advocacy and join hands to say; enough is enough! No water, no future! End galamsey now!”
GNA