By Hafsa Obeng, GNA
Accra, Dec. 5, GNA – The planetGOLD Ghana Project, which works to make small-scale gold mining safer, cleaner, and more profitable, has educated more than 3,500 students on the dangers of mercury use in mining communities through two major outreach programmes.
The programmes were held at the Asankrangwa Senior High School and Prestea Senior High and Technical School.
The sessions, led by the Health Education Team, form part of national efforts to promote safer, mercury-free mining under the planetGOLD Ghana initiative.
Mr Lovelace Sarpong, Project Coordinator, said the project goal was to strengthen student’s understanding of mercury risks and empower them to contribute to national efforts towards safer, mercury-free mining solutions.
He noted that students occupy a unique position within mining communities and could help discourage their peers, especially those involved in mercury use from engaging in unsafe gold processing practices.
“With the right and adequate information, students can lead community-level awareness campaigns and support the transition to mercury-free technologies,” he said.
Mr Michael Affordofe of the School of Hygeine, Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, provided detailed explanations on how mercury is used during Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining (ASGM), including the amalgamation and burning processes that released harmful pollutants into the environment.
He outlined the transformation of mercury into methylmercury, a highly toxic compound that contaminates water bodies, enters the food chain through fish, and poses severe long-term health risks.
Madam Selina Dussey, Ministry of Health, said mercury pollution affected more than just miners.
“Polluted air, contaminated water, and unsafe food put entire communities at risk, leading to neurological damage, organ failure, and developmental disorders,” she said.
“Currently there is no medical cure for mercury poisoning,” Madam Dussey said, underscoring the importance of prevention and safe environmental practices.
She encouraged students to sustain the momentum by forming or strengthening environmental clubs, organizing campaigns, and supporting community clean-up efforts.
Some students shared personal experiences from small-scale mining areas, adding real-life perspectives on the dangers of mercury use.
Documentary videos shown during the programme highlighted the destructive effects of mercury on rivers, crops, and public health.
A total of 3,570 students, teachers, and school leaders participated in the outreach activities.
Many expressed a renewed commitment to promoting environmental safety in their schools and communities.
GNA
Edited by Agnes Boye-Doe