A new study conducted by Pure Earth Ghana in collaboration with the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) reveals that Ghana’s food chain is becoming contaminated with dangerously high levels of mercury, arsenic, and other toxic metals due to illegal mining activities. During an appearance on the Asaase Breakfast Show on Tuesday, September 23, Blessing Enyonam Gbadago, Project Manager at Pure Earth Ghana, described these findings as “alarming.” She noted that staple foods such as kontomire and tomatoes sampled in the Ashanti and Western regions contained mercury levels hundreds of times above safe thresholds.
In the Ashanti region, for instance, researchers found mercury levels around 56 parts per million, which is about 560 percent above the threshold of 10 ppm. Gbadago emphasised the seriousness of the issue, stating, “These are foods that end up on every Ghanaian plate. You may not see the metals, but they accumulate in the body and can lead to neurological and kidney problems over time.”
The study, supported by the British High Commission through the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO), was conducted across six regions: Eastern, Ashanti, Western, Western North, Savannah, and Central. Researchers tested soil, water, and food staples for heavy metals, including mercury, cadmium, lead, and arsenic.
Gbadago pointed out that the contamination is not limited to mining communities: “Water has no boundaries, and food travels across the country. Even if you live far from a galamsey site, the kontomire or fish you buy in Accra could be carrying toxic metals.”
Hobson Kwame Agyapong, Principal Programme Officer at the EPA, joined the discussion via Zoom and emphasised that while the research is “preliminary,” it is crucial in guiding policy responses to this pressing issue.
“This is not to create fear and panic,” Agyapong said. “It is an early warning to help us design interventions. Environmental issues affect everyone, and when it comes to health, no one is exempt.” He explained that abandoned or reclaimed mining sites often become sources of contaminated crops because baseline soil studies are not carried out before farmlands are reused.
“Mercury present in the soil is absorbed by plants, which in turn end up in our markets,” Agyapong stated. “We urge farmers and traders to avoid harvesting food from abandoned mining areas and to be honest about the sources of the products they sell.” Both experts emphasized the risks to vulnerable groups, particularly children and pregnant women, who are at greater risk of exposure to heavy metals.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which gained authority in January 2025, is enhancing collaboration with other agencies and communities to monitor high-risk areas and advocate for stricter enforcement of mining regulations. “We must mine responsibly,” Agyapong emphasised. “Gold is a valuable resource, but it should not come at the expense of poisoning our food and jeopardising the future of our children.” Pure Earth Ghana announced that the next phase of the project will involve biomonitoring residents in affected areas to assess direct health impacts and develop targeted solutions.
Source: Winifred Lartey
