By: Emmanuel Amoah
The Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana (PSG) has issued a stark warning that the nation may soon be forced to import water to sustain local pharmaceutical production if illegal mining, or galamsey, is not brought under control.
During its 2024 annual general meeting, the PSG underscored the detrimental effects of illegal mining on the country’s water bodies, emphasizing the escalating costs of treating water essential for pharmaceutical manufacturing.
The society explained that the environmental damage caused by galamsey is making water treatment increasingly expensive, which in turn is driving up the cost of locally produced medicines.
Dr. Samuel Kow Donkoh, President of the PSG, cautioned that without urgent intervention, Ghana could soon face the grim reality of importing water to support its industries, including pharmaceutical manufacturing.
He highlighted that local pharmaceutical manufacturers, who currently supply all of Ghana’s infusion needs, rely heavily on clean water. The continuation of illegal mining activities, he warned, threatens not only the country’s water resources but also its capacity to sustain local medicine production.
“The activities of illegal miners have severely contaminated our water bodies, making water treatment for pharmaceutical production more expensive. Currently, Ghana is self-sufficient in infusion production, but illegal mining puts this achievement at risk. If the pollution continues, we may soon be forced to import water to meet our manufacturing needs. The high cost of water purification technologies is already inflating medicine prices. We call on the government to take decisive action to end this environmental destruction,” Dr. Donkoh stated.
The PSG is urging the government to implement stricter measures to combat illegal mining and safeguard the country’s vital water resources, which serve multiple industries.
