Dr Cadman Mills, brother of the late President John Atta Mills, has revealed that he suffers from severe stomach upset whenever he uses water in Ghana due to widespread pollution caused by illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.
According to him, the problem is particularly dire in his home region, the Central Region, where many rivers and water bodies have been heavily contaminated by galamsey activities.
Speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show on Tuesday, Dr Mills recounted his recent experience in Ghana after being away for three years.
“You know, I was in Ghana very recently. One of the things I didn’t tell you is that I was very sick,” he said. “I had been away for only three years, but just drinking the water in the Central Region, not even drinking, but using it to cook and using it to brush my teeth, I had a major stomach upset almost all the time that I was there.”
He stressed that the experience brought home the reality of the environmental crisis. “That was a click to me that this thing is not some theory, and you don’t have to be in the mining zone in order to be affected by it,” Dr Mills added.
Dr Mills also lamented the long-term consequences of illegal mining on future generations, warning that children are at risk of being born with severe health conditions due to exposure to toxic substances.
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“Its impact on generations to come, children being born with heavy metal…” he said, trailing off as he reflected on the devastating effects.
Scientific research in Ghana has shown that mercury and other harmful chemicals used in illegal mining have seeped into rivers and streams, posing significant health risks to communities that rely on these water sources.
Dr Mills criticised the government’s handling of the fight against galamsey, arguing that authorities appear conflicted and lack the political will to confront the menace decisively.
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He further backed calls for a state of emergency, insisting that only bold and urgent action can protect Ghana’s environment and safeguard public health.