Galamsey: How CNN reported the devastating effect of Ghana's gold rush

One of Ghana's biggest challenge; illegal mining, commonly referred to as galamsey, has steadily worsened over the years, posing a significant threat to the lives and well-being of its citizens.

While many Ghanaians continue to confront the devastating effects of galamsey, including the pollution of water bodies and farmland, this growing existential threat has garnered international attention.

As part of CNN's 'As Equals' initiative which is an ongoing series on gender inequality, journalist Larry Madowo traveled to Ghana's Western Region to investigate how the pursuit of gold through illegal mining is becoming a deadly venture for innocent citizens, and how the growing menace has sparked widespread protests across the country.

In an investigative report, Larry Madowo highlighted the impact of galamsey in the region where illegal mining is prevalent.

Speaking with locals, Madowo disclosed how the toxic chemicals used by miners in their search for gold are contaminating water bodies, posing serious health risks to local communities, particularly women.

Illegal miners use toxic chemicals such as mercury, lead, and arsenic to extract the gold from the ground. The contaminated water, now filled with these harmful metals, flows back directly into nearby rivers, many of which serve as the primary water source for surrounding communities.

Madowo spoke with a local woman, Diana Agyeiwaa from Samreboi, a mining community in the region, who expressed that she no longer drinks or uses the polluted water due to concerns for her own safety and the well-being of her child.

According to her, many women in the community have been severely impacted, with some experiencing birth deformities as a result of the polluted water.

When asked if she drinks the water, Diana Agyeiwaa said, “No, seriously no because I fear for my life and I fear that if I give that water to my child she may die. I met one woman who had a baby with a deformed nose during her delivery and I have seen a lot of deformed babies.”

Meanwhile, scientists have established a link between the toxic metals used in illegal mining and the birth deformities seen in babies born in areas heavily affected by galamsey.

Medical Officer at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Dr. Lawrence Agyemang expressed concern in an interview about the severe impact these heavy metals posed to unborn babies in areas affected by galamsey.

“We found enormous numbers of these heavy metals including mercury, lead, arsenic, and cadmium. We saw very bad presentations where babies were grossly abnormal like shrunken heads,” he said.

Watch the video below: