By Elizabeth Larkwor Baah
Tema, Jan. 13, GNA – Mrs Gifty Ofori-Yeboah, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Eco Impact Network, a non-governmental organisation on environment and climate, has cautioned that Ghana’s changing weather patterns are being driven by the environmental destruction caused by illegal small-scale mining, known locally as galamsey.
Mrs Ofori-Yeboah, who doubles as an environmentalist, noted that in previous years, the harmattan period brought cooler temperatures and dense haze, affecting visibility and daily activities; however, this year, those conditions were largely absent, signaling a disruption in the long-established seasonal patterns.
She said such conditions reflected a broader trend of climate irregularity across parts of the country, saying that rising temperatures, reduced cloud cover, and unpredictable rainfall patterns weakened the natural systems that once regulated local climate conditions.
She explained that forests and wetlands played a critical role in moderating temperature, retaining moisture, and supporting cloud formation; as a result, destroying them would contribute to excessive heat, altered wind patterns, and inconsistent seasonal transitions.
The CEO of Eco Impact Network added that beyond climate effects, the environmental damage caused by galamsey was extensive, as large sections of forest reserves had been destroyed as miners cleared lands to access gold-bearing soil.
She added that deforestation led to habitat loss for wildlife, increased soil erosion, and reduced carbon absorption, further compounding climate stress.
Additionally, aquatic ecosystems had been severely affected because rivers and streams in mining areas had been polluted with sediments and toxic chemicals, rendering many water bodies unsafe for human use.
Mrs Ofori-Yeboah explained that the use of mercury and cyanide in gold extraction posed long-term environmental and public health risks and called for stricter enforcement of mining regulations and sustained restoration of degraded lands.
Mrs Ofori-Yeboah also warned that without decisive action, the country risked further ecosystem collapse.
GNA
Edited by Laudia Anyorkor Nunoo/ Christabel Addo