The devastating effects of illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey, are no longer confined to Ghana, as the environmental destruction of water bodies and forest reserves begins to impact neighboring countries.
In a one minute video posted on X spaces the drone shots shows how the Atlantic Ocean is being polluted as a result of illegal mining activates.
Even though there are no records of galamsey activities taking place on the Atlantic Ocean, it is being polluted by the rivers in Ghana that flow into it at the Gulf of Guinea, the northeastern most part of the tropical ocean.
This means that fish and other aquatic life in the ocean would be affected by chemicals used by illegal miners to process mineral ore.
Video shared by the state broadcaster, Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC), shows the Gulf of Guinea heavily polluted. The video showed the galamsey-polluted River Ankobra flowing into the ocean around Takoradi in the Western Region.
Both the estuary (the converging point of the River Ankobra and the Atlantic Ocean) and part of the ocean looked deep brown, suggesting that it was full of mercury, arsenic, and lead used to process minerals, which are toxic to aquatic life and humans.
This is where River Ankobra enters the sea.
The fight continues…..#StopGalamsayNow pic.twitter.com/GeKlPjw4M0
— Kafui Dey (@KafuiDey) September 25, 2024
