The Paediatric Society of Ghana has appealed to President John Dramani Mahama to treat illegal mining, widely known as galamsey, as a national public health and security emergency, warning of its devastating impact on children.
In a statement issued to mark Earth Day on April 22, 2026, the Society described galamsey as a “slow, silent assault on the Ghanaian child,” citing growing scientific evidence of its harmful effects on human health and the environment.
From a paediatric and public health perspective, the Society warned that illegal mining is contaminating water bodies and food systems with toxic heavy metals such as mercury and arsenic, exposing children to serious health risks.
It noted that prenatal exposure to mercury has been linked to irreversible brain damage, reduced IQ, and neurodevelopmental disorders, while polluted water sources are increasing the burden of infections, chronic diseases, and malnutrition among children.
The Society further stressed that environmental degradation caused by galamsey is worsening poverty, food insecurity, and displacement—conditions that disproportionately affect children and threaten their long-term wellbeing.
Drawing parallels with historical injustices, the group cautioned that while the transatlantic slave trade deprived generations of Africans of their future, galamsey risks doing the same through environmental destruction and loss of human potential.
The Paediatric Society is therefore calling on the President to elevate the fight against galamsey to a national emergency and lead a coordinated, science-driven response involving the health, environment, security, and education sectors.
It also urged government to enforce strict protection of water bodies and forest reserves, invest in child-focused environmental health monitoring systems, and prioritise early detection and treatment of conditions such as heavy metal toxicity.
Additionally, the Society called on Ghana to champion the issue globally, framing environmental destruction of this nature within the context of crimes against humanity.
The group pledged its readiness to support government with technical expertise, research, and advocacy to safeguard the health and future of Ghanaian children.
