A Senior Medical Practitioner at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Dr Prince Aggrey, has urged residents, particularly those in mining communities, to undergo regular medical check-ups due to the growing public health risks linked to illegal mining activities, commonly known as galamsey.
Dr Aggrey made the appeal in an interview with Adom News during a health screening exercise organised by the Aggrey and Associates Foundation in collaboration with M Enterprise Ghana at Konongo.
He warned that illegal mining, especially operations in water bodies and forest reserves, continues to expose communities to serious health and environmental hazards.
According to Dr Aggrey, the use of hazardous chemicals such as mercury and cyanide poses long-term risks, as these substances can easily contaminate water sources used for drinking, cooking, and bathing.
He stressed that prolonged exposure to such toxins could lead to chronic health conditions, highlighting the need for strict enforcement of mining regulations alongside proactive health monitoring in affected areas.
Meanwhile, Albert Tetteh, Senior Associate in charge of Operations at the Aggrey and Associates Foundation, said the health screening exercise aimed to help residents better understand their health status and take early preventive measures.
He explained that the initiative forms part of the Foundation’s broader corporate social responsibility programme, focused on supporting communities impacted by illegal mining.
The Foundation reiterated its commitment to promoting public health awareness and providing basic healthcare support to vulnerable mining communities, as part of efforts to mitigate the human cost of environmental degradation.
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