Environment, Science and Technology Minister Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings has warned that illegal mining in Ghana is threatening water, farmland, public health and the country’s ability to sustain future generations.
Her warning followed a field visit to illegal mining sites at Osino in the Eastern Region, facilitated by the Environmental Protection Authority, where she witnessed extensive environmental degradation.
“What will we leave behind for future generations if we continue to destroy the very resources upon which our survival depends?” she asked.
Dr Agyeman-Rawlings said the damage caused by illegal mining extends beyond individual mining sites, affecting food production, drinking water and the livelihoods of communities.
‘We Cannot Eat Gold’
The Minister argued that the pursuit of mineral wealth cannot justify destroying resources that communities depend on for survival.
“What is the value of gold if our rivers are poisoned, our farmlands are rendered unproductive, and our children inherit an environment that can no longer sustain them?” - Dr Agyeman-Rawlings
She added: “We cannot eat gold. We cannot drink gold. And no amount of wealth can replace our environment.”
During the Osino visit, large areas of agricultural land had been degraded, with open pits, stagnant water and destroyed vegetation visible at some mining sites. Dr Agyeman-Rawlings has also described illegal mining as both an environmental and public health problem.
Minister Calls for Collective Action
Dr Agyeman-Rawlings said environmental protection cannot be left solely to government agencies and regulators.
She called for accountability and a change in public attitudes towards natural resources, arguing that short term financial gains should not outweigh long term national interests.
The Minister, who assumed the Environment, Science and Technology portfolio in August 2026, has made illegal mining and environmental protection central issues in her early engagements.
Her visit to Osino forms part of government efforts to assess mining related degradation and strengthen enforcement against environmentally destructive operations.
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