Ghana’s fight against illegal mining has taken on a new and urgent dimension, as the Ghana Pharmaceutical Society warns that the country’s ability to produce essential medicines is under serious threat.
At a forum held in Cape Coast on Thursday, September 25, 2025, the President of the Society, Dr. Samuel Kow Donkor, revealed that galamsey activities are not only polluting water bodies but are also endangering the very foundation of Ghana’s pharmaceutical production — clean water and medicinal plants.
“Without safe and reliable water sources, especially for sterile drug production like infusions, the entire pharmaceutical sector is at risk,” Dr. Donkor stated. “If galamsey shuts down water treatment plants, we won’t just face environmental and health consequences — we’ll be in a full-blown national security crisis.”
Dr. Donkor highlighted the country’s growing dependence on imported medicines, noting that 70% of Ghana’s pharmaceutical needs are already sourced from abroad. The remaining 30%, produced locally, relies heavily on quality water and plant-based raw materials that are increasingly compromised by illegal mining.
“If we lose local capacity, we’re at the mercy of global supply chains, which are already vulnerable. That’s a threat to our health system, our economy, and our sovereignty,” he warned.
The Society’s call adds to mounting pressure on authorities to treat illegal mining not just as an environmental issue, but as a direct threat to critical sectors, including healthcare and industrial sustainability.
Dr. Donkor urged government agencies, environmental bodies, and law enforcement to intensify the crackdown on galamsey operations, emphasizing that protecting water sources is vital to ensuring drug availability, affordability, and safety for Ghanaians.
“This is beyond politics or policy debates — it’s about protecting lives,” he concluded.
