Kumasi, Ghana —
Inside a dimly lit pathology lab at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, rows of sealed jars tell a haunting story. Each jar, filled with formalin, contains the remains of fetuses marked by severe birth defects. Among them is the preserved fetus of a 20-year-old mother who succumbed to childbirth complications. She had worked at an unlicensed gold mine, part of Ghana’s booming but perilous gold rush.
This lab holds more than a dozen similar tragedies, yet what links them is deeply troubling: nine of the deceased mothers worked in illegal gold mines, and others lived in nearby mining communities. Forensic pathologists have detected heavy metals like mercury, lead, and cadmium in samples from these mothers and fetuses—known pollutants from unregulated mining operations.
The environmental and health impacts of Ghana’s unlicensed small-scale gold mining, colloquially known as “galamsey,” are widely recognized. However, the link between mining pollution and maternal health remains underexplored. Experts warn of rising maternal deaths, miscarriages, and birth defects, all potentially connected to toxic exposures from mining activities.
The Human Toll: Communities in Crisis
In Samreboi, a hub of unregulated mining activity six hours from Kumasi, toxic chemicals like mercury and cyanide seep into rivers like the Tano, poisoning the environment and its people. Once clear, the river now runs murky brown, its fish contaminated. For locals like 38-year-old nursing mother Diana Agyeiwaa, the river once provided drinking water and food. After experiencing complications during childbirth, she suspects pollution is to blame.
“I fear for my life,” Agyeiwaa confesses. “If I give that water to my daughter, she might die.”
Agyeiwaa’s fears are shared by others in her community. A local doctor, wary of speaking out publicly, described an increase in birth defects in recent years, including cases where babies were born with incomplete abdominal walls or other severe deformities. “These issues became common when galamsey intensified,” he noted.
A Poisoned Legacy
Mercury, used extensively in gold extraction, poses significant health risks. The World Health Organization highlights its potential to harm fetal development and cause cognitive deficits. A 2021 study found mercury levels in fish from the Tano River exceeded safe thresholds, with implications for kidney, liver, and even neurological health.
The environmental cost is equally devastating. Toxic wastewater from mining operations pollutes rivers, transforming landscapes into barren wastelands. Yet, for miners like 30-year-old Sarah Akosua, the immediate need to survive outweighs long-term health concerns. “I know the chemicals are harmful, but we don’t have a choice,” Akosua admits.
Gold’s Double-Edged Sword
Ghana, the world’s sixth-largest gold producer, relies heavily on its gold industry for economic stability. Soaring global gold prices have brought much-needed revenue but have also fueled unregulated mining. More than 60% of Ghana’s mining workforce operates illegally, often exposing themselves to dangerous conditions for meager wages.
While the government has introduced mercury-free technology and enforcement measures, illegal mining persists, driven by poverty and a lack of alternatives. Promises of sustainable mining practices and alternative livelihoods remain far from reality.
A Call for Urgent Action
The hidden cost of Ghana’s gold rush extends far beyond environmental degradation; it threatens the lives of women, children, and entire communities. Experts like Professor Paul Sampene Ossei warn of an existential crisis, urging immediate interventions to address the crisis.
As Ghana balances economic gains with human costs, the stories of mothers like Diana Agyeiwaa and miners like Sarah Akosua highlight the urgent need for change. Without swift action, the country risks paying a price far greater than its gold reserves.