- Ghana may import water due to galamsey.
- Galamsey hikes medicine costs.
- Local pharma production at risk.
- Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana urges gov't action on galamsey.
The Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana (PSG) has sounded the alarm on the devastating impact of illegal mining, also known as galamsey, on the country’s water supply. At its 2024 annual general meeting, the society warned that if urgent action isn’t taken, Ghana may soon have to import water to support local pharmaceutical production.
This dire prediction is based on the escalating costs of treating water for manufacturing due to environmental degradation caused by galamsey. The PSG emphasized that this added expense contributes significantly to the high cost of medicine in Ghana.
Currently, Ghana’s local manufacturers produce all the infusions needed in the country, but they require quality water to do so. However, galamsey’s toxic legacy threatens this achievement.
Dr. Samuel Kow Donkoh, PSG President, stressed that Ghana’s water bodies have been devastated by illegal mining, making it increasingly expensive for pharmaceutical companies to treat water.
The society is urging the government to take decisive action to tackle galamsey, enforcing regulations and prosecuting offenders.
The impact of galamsey on water supply is already being felt in regions like Cape Coast and Elmina, where the Ghana Water Company Limited has alerted residents to severe water supply challenges.
In these areas, the Sekyere Hemang Water Treatment Plant operates at only a quarter of its installed capacity due to pollution and siltation caused by galamsey.
The Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana’s warning serves as a wake-up call for the government to address the galamsey menace and protect Ghana’s water resources.
