- Pharmaceutical Society warns of galamsey's impact on medicine production
- Polluted water and plants affect critical drug manufacturing inputs
- Water treatment shutdowns could halt local drug manufacturing
The Ghana Pharmaceutical Society has sounded the alarm over the threat illegal mining—commonly known as galamsey—poses to the survival of the country’s local pharmaceutical industry.
According to the Society, galamsey operations are polluting water sources and contaminating plants that are essential raw materials for the production of locally manufactured medicines.
Speaking at a forum in Cape Coast on Thursday, September 25, 2025, the Society’s President, Dr. Samuel Kow Donkor, called for urgent action to address the crisis.
“Ghana currently imports around 70% of its medicines. For the remaining locally produced drugs, high-quality water is especially critical—particularly for the production of infusions,” he said. “When water treatment facilities are forced to shut down due to galamsey-related contamination, we face a dire scenario.”
Dr. Donkor warned that such disruptions could not only increase dependence on imported drugs but also lead to the total collapse of Ghana’s local pharmaceutical manufacturing sector.
He emphasized that the fight against illegal mining is not just an environmental or public health issue, but a national security priority—since the sustainability of the domestic drug industry relies heavily on access to clean water and safe, natural resources.
