The Minister for Science, Environment and Technology, Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, has warned that the destruction of Ghana’s natural resources through illegal mining threatens the country’s water, food security and the livelihoods of future generations.
She raised the concern after visiting illegal mining sites at Osino during a field visit facilitated by the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA).
In a statement following the visit, Dr Agyeman-Rawlings questioned the long-term value of gold extraction if it leaves behind polluted rivers, degraded farmlands, and an environment incapable of sustaining future generations.
“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?” she asked.
She cautioned that the effects of environmental destruction extend beyond mining communities, threatening the quality of water available for consumption, the soil needed for agriculture, and the health and livelihoods of Ghanaians.
According to her, some natural resources may take generations to recover once destroyed, while others may be lost permanently.
Dr Agyeman-Rawlings stressed that the protection of the environment must not be left solely to government and regulatory institutions, arguing that it requires collective responsibility, accountability, and a change in public attitudes towards natural resources.
She maintained that short-term financial gains from mining could not justify the long-term damage to the environment and the resources on which human survival depends.
“We cannot eat gold. We cannot drink gold. And no amount of wealth can replace our environment,” she stated.
Her comments add to concerns over the environmental consequences of illegal mining, particularly its threats to water bodies, agricultural land, and public health.
However, the statement did not specify any enforcement measures, sanctions or remedial actions arising from the Osino visit.
