Heavy metals from galamsey seeping into treated water - Expert warns

Toxic heavy metals from illegal mining otherwise known as galamsey are seeping into Ghana's treated water supply and driving a surge in kidney disease, a nephrologist at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital has warned.

In an interview with JoyNews monitored by GhanaWeb on July 6, 2026, Dr Kingsley Amoah explained that contamination from galamsey now reaches beyond mining areas into "almost every home supplied by Ghana Water," while his hospital struggles with a weekly influx of new kidney patients, most arriving too late for effective treatment.

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"All these heavy metals actually go beyond the communities where illegal mining is happening. It's going into almost every home which are supplied by Ghana Water. Health professionals are increasingly urging the public to take preventive steps, including regular medical checkups, lifestyle changes and physical exercise as key tools in reducing risk", he stated.

The nephrologist explained that the situation is not limited to one facility, but is widespread across the country, with many patients reporting to hospitals at very late stages of the disease.

"A majority of them come in in late stages, like chronic kidney disease stage five, where they have reached the end of the disease process and cannot have treatment that will reverse this, other than dialysis or kidney transplantation," he said.

Dr Amoah urged the public to prioritise regular medical checkups, noting that early detection through yearly health screening can help prevent kidney failure.

JKB/VPO

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