The Minister for Environment, Science and Technology, Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, has described illegal mining involving hazardous chemicals as a form of chemical warfare, warning that the practice poses grave threats to human health and the environment.
She has called for the establishment of fast-track environmental courts to facilitate the speedy prosecution of environmental offences, stressing that the effects of illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, go beyond environmental degradation to constitute a broader public health crisis.
Dr Agyeman-Rawlings made the remarks during a tour of parts of the Eastern Region, where she expressed concern about illegal mining activities at Osino, occurring less than 200 metres from a major road, despite ongoing efforts to reclaim degraded lands.
Speaking at the official residence of the Eastern Regional Minister, she urged the Eastern Regional Security Council (REGSEC) to exercise its security mandate to tackle the persistent operations of illegal miners in the area.
She described the situation as alarming, questioning why illegal mining activities continued openly despite concerted efforts to protect the environment and restore damaged lands.
The Minister cautioned that the use of dangerous chemicals, including cyanide and mercury, outside properly regulated facilities exposed nearby communities and the wider population to significant health hazards.
“This is a form of chemical warfare, if you ask me, because the use of hazardous chemicals like cyanide and mercury outside of the confines of a properly regulated environment puts everyone at risk,” she said.
She further warned that exposure to these toxic substances could contribute to serious health consequences, including congenital deformities and maternal and infant mortality. She emphasised that galamsey must be recognised not merely as an environmental offence but also as a major public health concern.
Dr Agyeman-Rawlings cautioned that the continued destruction of the region’s natural resources threatened its long-term development potential and could leave future generations to bear the devastating consequences.
