Peasant farmers in Ghana are warning that the country’s already staggering annual food import bill of over $3.5 billion could rise even higher if government agencies fail to take tougher action against illegal mining, locally known as galamsey. They fear contamination from mining activities is threatening farmlands, water sources, and ultimately food production.
Their concerns follow a new year-long study by Pure Earth in partnership with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which revealed alarming levels of mercury, arsenic, lead, and other heavy metals in soil, water, air, fish, and food crops across six regions. The report, covering August 2024 to September 2025, highlights the grave risks to public health and Ghana’s food security if urgent measures are not taken.
Bismark Nortey, Executive Director of the Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana, told Citi Business News that the study should serve as a “wake-up call” for ministries and agencies responsible for agriculture, mining, and environment. “If the situation continues and farmers are forced to abandon production, the impact on our nation will be catastrophic. The amount we already spend on food imports could escalate even more, especially as consumers grow wary of the safety of locally produced food,” he warned.
The report’s data paints a stark picture. In Konongo Zongo (Ashanti Region), mercury levels in soil reached 1,342 ppm, more than 130 times the safe limit, while airborne mercury at Wassa Kayianko (Western Region) peaked at 150 μg/m³, far exceeding permissible levels. Dangerous arsenic levels were also recorded, with soil concentrations in Konongo Zongo hitting 10,060 ppm (over 4000% above safe levels) and water in Konongo Odumase containing 3.3 mg/L, vastly surpassing drinking water standards. Lead contamination in fish and vegetables was similarly high, breaching World Health Organization (WHO) limits.
Researchers recommend urgent multi-sectoral intervention, including low-cost remediation technologies like phytoremediation in polluted hotspots such as Konongo Zongo. Without swift action, Ghana faces not only a public health crisis but also a potential surge in food imports as local production declines, placing additional strain on the economy and undermining national food security.
source: citi newsroom