The University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG), University of Ghana chapter, has issued a grave warning over the devastating impact of illegal mining (galamsey) on the nation’s water bodies and public health.
Speaking on Channel One Newsroom on Monday, September 15, Dr. Jerry Joe Harrison, General Secretary of UTAG-UG, said the situation demands urgent nationwide action.
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“If we don’t do what we are supposed to do now, we will all die. The water situation is causing havoc in people’s homes. Many areas, including Kwanyako, don’t have access to clean water. People can’t even afford to buy water for their households,” he declared bluntly.
Dr. Harrison, a scientist, warned that the continued consumption of polluted water could lead to severe long-term illnesses.
“People have had to consume these waters, and they are going to have cancers and neurological diseases by all means. Is that not an emergency enough for you?” he asked.
He cautioned that waiting until widespread symptoms appear before acting would be disastrous: “So what do you prefer—that we sit down for 5% or 10% of the population to begin to have visible neurological symptoms before we take action? No.”
Beyond drinking water, Dr. Harrison stressed how contaminated water is seeping into the food chain, exposing Ghanaians indirectly.
“You can’t prevent the animals from going to drink the water. Whether you like it or not, if you don’t get it through the food, you get it through the meat,” he explained.
The UTAG-UG official called on authorities to recognise galamsey as a national emergency and act decisively to protect water sources, food security, and public health.