The Chief Executive Officer of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Prof. Nana Ama Browne Klutse, has underscored how illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, has evolved into a national security threat beyond environmental and health concerns.
Speaking on Campus Exclusive, ahead of her inaugural lecture on the topic “Physics, Policy, and Politics of Climate Change: The Foundation of Human Survival, Prof. Klutse cited recent violent attacks on Forestry Commission guards and EPA officials by armed galamsey operatives as evidence of the growing threat.
“When our teams go out for monitoring, they face serious threats from illegal miners who are heavily armed. Just last week, forest guards were attacked, and in the past, some have been injured or even killed. It’s a dire situation, and every Ghanaian must be concerned,” she emphasized.
Prof. Nana Ama Browne Klutse also warned that galamsey has escalated into a major public health crisis, with toxic chemicals contaminating water bodies and food sources, posing serious risks to human life.
“Galamsey is now a public health challenge, we have mercury, cadmium, cyanide heavy metals contaminating our water bodies. This is a direct threat to human life. After mining, people attempt to use the land for farming, but these toxic substances seep into the food system, posing serious health risks. Even the water we consume is affected by these heavy metals.”
She called for urgent national action to curb the menace, warning that failure to address the issue could have long-term consequences for the environment, public health, and national security.
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Story by: Kumah Elsie Eyram | univers.ug.edu.gh
