A Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Cape Coast (UCC), Prof. Albert Ebo Duncan, has cautioned that rivers polluted by illegal mining could take up to a century to regain their natural purity, while contaminated lands may require as many as 300 years to recover. He attributed the prolonged recovery period to the widespread introduction of heavy metals and toxic chemicals used in illegal mining operations, popularly known as galamsey, into Ghana’s water bodies and agricultural lands.
Prof. Duncan made the remarks at an anti-galamsey public education forum held at Praso in the Twifo Atti-Morkwa District of the Central Region, bringing together schoolchildren, miners and media practitioners. He warned that even an immediate end to illegal mining would not guarantee a quick restoration of the environment, given the time required for natural processes to eliminate harmful substances.
“Even if galamsey stops today, contaminated water may take up to 100 years to return to a safe, clean state, while chemically degraded farmlands could remain unsuitable for full ecological and agricultural recovery for roughly 300 years,” he said.
The forum was organised by UCC’s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering in partnership with the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI) as part of a two-month house-to-house campaign aimed at raising awareness about the environmental and social consequences of illegal mining.
Under the initiative, 16 trained young environmental advocates will be deployed in groups to educate residents, particularly young people, on the dangers of galamsey. Selected teachers will also support the outreach activities. The campaign places particular emphasis on pupils and students, seeking to instil environmental responsibility, good sanitation practices and civic consciousness among the younger generation.
As part of the forum, pupils staged drama performances highlighting the devastating effects of polluted water bodies on agriculture, public health and Ghana’s food security. Prof. Duncan explained that although environmental clean-up and water treatment interventions could commence immediately, the natural processes involved in removing pollutants from water and breaking down toxic chemicals in the soil were considerably slower.
He, therefore, urged young people to resist involvement in illegal mining and called on government, traditional authorities, local communities and civil society organisations to intensify collective efforts to combat the practice. He stressed the need for sustained public education and stronger community participation to safeguard Ghana’s water resources, protect agricultural lands and prevent further environmental degradation.
