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Water from a severely polluted river in Ghana was so discolored and thick that an artist was able to use it as paint to illustrate the environmental devastation caused by illegal gold mining. Mercury, increasingly used in gold extraction, has polluted rivers to such an extent that WaterAid has termed it “ecocide.”
Israel Derrick Apeti, known as Enil Art, and his friend Jay Sterling visited the Pra River, about 200km west of Accra, to raise awareness of the environmental disaster brought on by “galamsey”—the local term for illegal mining. Apeti described the river water as so polluted that he was able to use it as paint, highlighting the shocking extent of the damage. Communities living along the Pra River, once clean enough to see fish and crocodiles, now describe it as a yellowish-brown, lifeless body of water.
Illegal gold mining, previously limited to small-scale operations with rudimentary tools, has transformed into a large-scale, highly destructive industry, often supported by Chinese businessmen. This shift has led to massive deforestation, river pollution, and the destruction of cocoa farms, Ghana’s second-largest export after gold.
Protests in Accra have called for government action to stop illegal mining, but frustration is growing. Demonstrators accused the government of inaction, with police arresting several protesters, later released as public anger intensified.
Ghana, the world’s sixth-largest gold exporter, is suffering widespread environmental degradation due to galamsey. Ghanaian musicians like Black Sherif have supported the anti-galamsey movement, with artists using their platforms to highlight the devastation.
The crisis has deepened as powerful businessmen, local politicians, and even some security forces are suspected of being involved in galamsey. Forests are razed, rivers poisoned with mercury and cyanide, and valuable agricultural land destroyed. More than 4,700 hectares of land across seven of Ghana’s 16 regions have been decimated by illegal mining.
The consequences are dire. WaterAid warned that Ghana could become a water importer by 2030 if illegal mining isn’t curbed. Meanwhile, cocoa production has plummeted, with the Ghana Cocoa Board reporting over 19,000 hectares of farmland destroyed.
While President Nana Akufo-Addo has pledged to combat illegal mining, his efforts have fallen short. Critics argue that his failure to deliver on his promises has exacerbated the crisis, jeopardizing the future of Ghana’s environment, water supply, and agricultural sector. Despite the deployment of naval boats to halt mining activities, many remain skeptical of a true crackdown, especially with upcoming elections and political alliances at stake.
For Apeti and other concerned citizens, the fight against galamsey is urgent. As rivers continue to run polluted and forests are stripped bare, the survival of Ghana’s natural resources hangs in the balance.
