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Ghana’s gold is no longer a blessing, but a ticking time bomb, poisoning its people and land for the profits of a shadowy few. As illegal mining ravages the country’s future, the government’s inaction only sharpens the outrage of those left to suffer the consequences.
In six years by 2030, Ghana could become the first nation globally to import water at a large scale. Why? The answer hides in plain sight, within multiple rivers in the country, including these six: Pra, Ankobra, Oti, Offin and Birim. What do these Ghanaian rivers have in common? Chronic contamination.
Before illegal mining seized Ghana, these rivers used to shimmer with clarity. Not anymore. Back then, you could see the smooth pebbles deep in the riverbed. Not anymore. These rivers shimmered once, winding lifelines of blue, clear enough to reflect the sky above. Not anymore. Now, they resemble a slow-moving stream of mercury-tainted sludge, unrecognizable and dangerous.
For many Ghanaians, the sight of the Pra River, thick and polluted, has become a heartbreaking warning. The gold buried beneath the soil has become a curse, a shadow over the future of an entire nation. And the real question now isn't just how long the rivers will last, but whether Ghana itself can survive the damage being done to it.
Ghana, a country of mineral wealth and promise, finds itself in a fierce battle over its survival. For decades, its gold deposits have been a symbol of national pride and a catalyst of prosperity. Not anymore. Now they are fueling a growing catastrophe. Illegal mining –galamsey, as it’s known locally – has turned from an economic activity to a national crisis. Illegal mining degrades land, pollutes rivers, undermines human health, and threatens the future of millions in Ghana. What once seemed like a golden ticket is now a ticket to disaster.
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An uprising against illegal mining
Recent events, like the #OccupyJulorbiHouse protests in September 2024, show that Ghanaians are no longer willing to stand by as their lands and water are destroyed. These protests are a resounding call for government action and a collective scream for survival. Water sources that once sustained life are now laden with cyanide and mercury, chemicals recklessly poured into rivers and lakes by illegal miners, poisoning the very thing that makes life possible. The Ghana Water Company has warned that, if this continues, the country could face an unprecedented water crisis.
The rivers—once sparkling, vital arteries of the nation—have become deadly. The Pra, the Birim, and others, once drinkable, are now unusable, turning murky and toxic. It’s not just water that’s at risk. Citizens are grappling with rising healthcare costs, treating illnesses born of this poisoned water. One elderly protester voiced the desperation so many feel: “We cannot afford dialysis… how am I supposed to pay for my grandchildren’s treatment?” These words aren’t just about health—they reveal the fear of what happens when a nation can no longer take care of its own.
Illegal gold miners utilizing a water pump. Photo courtesy of Mongabay
Only a few are profiting at the expense of millions
But who is profiting from this devastation? Certainly not the farmers in Wassa Akropong and other rural towns, whose land has been turned to wasteland, nor the villagers who can no longer drink from their rivers. The wealth flows in another direction, to shadowy networks of illegal miners and the officials who protect them. Some of these miners aren’t even Ghanaians – foreign nationals profit, as do the few local elites who have managed to embed themselves in the illicit industry. And with each bribe, each truckload of gold spirited away, another piece of Ghana is lost. Between 2008 and 2016, over 50,000 Chinese migrated to rural Ghana to engage in illegal mining.
The profits made by these miners and their collaborators are staggering, but they come at a cost the nation cannot afford. Ghana loses US$2 billion annually to illegal gold mining.
Ghana’s farmland, its forests, its ability to feed its people, are all being sacrificed. The National Seed Trade Association has reported a seed production crisis, a shortage of nearly 50%, in part because fertile land is vanishing. Where crops once grew, toxic soil remains.
And what happens when the land can no longer produce food? What happens when entire regions, once sustained by agriculture, can no longer feed themselves? Ghana, a nation that has relied on farming for centuries, now faces a food security disaster. The forests that once cooled the air and absorbed carbon are now scarred by the relentless hunt for gold, accelerating climate change and increasing the vulnerability of the land to floods, droughts, and famine.
It’s a vicious cycle. More land cleared, more biodiversity lost, more rivers poisoned, and fewer resources to sustain life. The immediate gain from galamsey may seem profitable, but it’s fleeting. The long-term effects – the diseases, the dead rivers, the barren fields – are what the people will be left with. Mercury poisoning, especially, casts a dark shadow. Villages near mining sites report alarming rates of skin conditions, respiratory diseases, and cognitive issues in children. It’s a slow-motion catastrophe, one that hits the poorest hardest, leaving them no choice but to fight back in whatever way they can.
Click here to read part 2 of this Ibrahim Traore series
Illegal mining in a Ghanaian Forest
Ghanaians Must Rise Up and Reclaim Their Country - with the support of Africa!
This is no longer about illegal mining only. It’s about justice, food security and sustainable development. Ghana’s mineral wealth should benefit its people, not destroy them. Yet, at this moment, the scales are tipped dangerously in favor of short-term profits for a few, while the many pay with their health, their land, and their future. If this continues, Ghana will become a tragic example of a country rich in minerals but stripped of everything else.
Environmentalists, civil rights activists, and ordinary Ghanaians have all raised the alarm, but the government has yet to act with the urgency required. Stronger laws, stricter enforcement, and a shift toward sustainable mining are essential. Ghana’s resources must enhance the people’s well-being, not deplete it.
The future of Ghana hangs in the balance. If the nation can reclaim its land, its water, and its dignity, there’s hope, not just for survival, but for prosperity. But if galamsey continues unchecked, if the rivers keep running black and the forests keep falling, then Ghana risks losing not just its land, but its soul. The fight is on, and it’s a fight for the very essence of what the country can become.
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I seek to awaken and empower Africa through knowledge. If you would like to invest in my work, you can do so through:
Paypal: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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