Over the past two years, the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), environmentalists, and other stakeholders have repeatedly raised concerns in public forums and the media about the increasing pollution and contamination of food products such as vegetables and fruits.

These are largely linked to chemicals like mercury and lead used in galamsey (illegal mining) activities, which have found their way into the food chain. Among the potential consequences of this contamination is a blacklisting from European markets.

Highlighting these warnings, the European Union Ambassador to Ghana, Rune Skinnebach, during an appearance on JoyNews’ AM Show on Tuesday, October 28, stated clearly that the EU would be forced to suspend all vegetable and fruit imports from Ghana if traces of lead, mercury, or any other harmful metals are detected in exports to European markets. He emphasised the EU’s readiness to protect its citizens from food poisoning and to safeguard its market interests.

According to him, while the EU remains a strong trade partner with Ghana and is committed to supporting the country’s interests, it will not tolerate contaminated food products entering its markets. These remarks were made in response to questions about measures the EU might take to compel Ghana to address the menace of galamsey more urgently and prevent further deterioration.

“First of all, I want to reiterate that we, as a longstanding partner to Ghana, stand ready to support. At the same time, it is clear that with galamsey, the moment pollution affects the vegetables Ghana exports to the EU, there will be dire consequences.

It is not that we are sanctioning Ghana, but we do not want Ghanaian consumers, and certainly not European consumers, to eat sweet potatoes with mercury residues in them. So, there will be a stop to the export of such products to the EU,” Rune stressed.

He added that such a move “is something Ghana doesn’t want to see, and we don’t want to see it either. But we must protect our people, that’s our role, so there will be scenarios we may want to avoid.”

The Ambassador continued, “While the EU is the number one donor to Ghana, it is also the number one trading partner and investor. Those elements, especially trade and investment, are what I intend to focus on during my tenure here. We have many treaties we look forward to exploring to the benefit of both Ghana and the EU.”

He further expressed the EU’s readiness to support Ghana with logistics, intelligence, and technical assistance once the country takes concrete steps to tackle galamsey.

“When it comes to galamsey, ultimately, these are issues that must be addressed politically, and that’s not my field. But I can step in to offer support. The moment there’s a need for regulatory frameworks or equipment to monitor pollution and control development, that’s where we can assist,” he said.

Heavy metals such as lead, mercury, and cadmium, mostly traced to illegal mining activities, have gradually crept into the food chain, causing devastating effects on both the born and unborn.

Ongoing research by Prof. Dr Paul Poku Sampene Ossei, a forensic histopathologist and former Head of Pathology at KNUST and Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), has revealed alarming trends in the rising cases of spontaneous abortions among pregnant women in Ghana.

Approximately 500 miscarriage cases have been recorded in research linking these losses to severe contamination of placentas with heavy metals such as lead and mercury, resulting from galamsey activities.

A spontaneous abortion is the unintentional expulsion of an embryo or fetus from the uterus before it is viable.

Speaking on JoyNews’ Newsfile on Saturday, September 27, Prof. Sampene warned that galamsey is poisoning unborn babies and endangering mothers’ lives.

“I have about 500 cases where women went to the hospital and lost their babies because of the concentration of heavy metals in their placentas,” he disclosed.

His research, involving over 4,000 placentas from different regions across Ghana, revealed dangerous levels of heavy metal contamination on both the maternal and fetal sides.

“The placentas are all contaminated, polluted with heavy metals,” he said.

The dangers of these metals extend beyond pregnancy losses. Another consequence of galamsey is the excessive use of alum to address the increasing turbidity of water. The Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) has resorted to using higher concentrations of alum, a situation Prof. Sampene warns could lead to serious health risks, including kidney disease.

“People are talking about turbidity, and the Water Company says they are using more alum. Alum is aluminium hydroxide, and at high concentrations over time, it causes kidney problems, respiratory irritation, and neurological defects. All these effects have been scientifically proven, and we must take them seriously,” he cautioned.

He expressed deep concern about the impact of these metals on children, whose developing organs cannot effectively filter toxins.

“Do we have what it takes to handle the rise in kidney diseases? Dialysis is expensive, and children are now being diagnosed with chronic kidney disease. These are the realities we must face,” he said.

Prof. Sampene further revealed that birth deformities are increasingly being recorded in mining areas, although some doctors are reluctant to speak publicly.

“Since I raised this issue, doctors in mining areas tell me they’re seeing many deformities in babies. Most are afraid to speak out, but it’s happening,” he revealed.

Galamsey remains one of Ghana’s most severe environmental challenges, an ongoing cancer eating into the nation’s ecosystem. The fight against it has been long and difficult, with limited positive results, though successive governments have remained determined to confront the menace.

In August, Ghana lost several gallant men who perished in a tragic plane crash in Adansi while on their way to an anti-galamsey event. Their remains, burned beyond recognition, had to be collected in cocoa sacks for forensic examination.

Their deaths have since intensified calls from officials, citizens, and stakeholders urging President Mahama to take a tougher stance, including declaring a state of emergency.

However, President Mahama has said he can only declare such a measure upon the advice of his government’s advisors.

During a meeting with Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) on Friday, October 3, he explained that acting without the National Security Council’s approval would breach governance procedures.

President Mahama pledged to heed public calls for a declaration of emergency when advised to do so.

According to him, government advisors believe the country can overcome galamsey by adopting best practices in small-scale mining, including technologies that neutralise or remove harmful chemicals from water bodies.

“While we are fighting the menace, I am also saying we should adopt technology to protect the environment. Let’s fight illegal mining, but at the same time, bring in technologies that safeguard our environment.

“Now, regarding the state of emergency, yes, I have the power to do it, but I act on the advice of the National Security Council. As of now, they believe we can win this fight without declaring one. But the day they advise me otherwise, I won’t hesitate,” he stated.

President Mahama expressed confidence that Ghana can eradicate the menace through stronger military deployment and greater resource investment. He concluded that although the battle is a long one, his administration remains committed to winning it.