The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) is warning that illegal mining—popularly known as galamsey—is contaminating food and cosmetic products with dangerous levels of heavy metals, posing a serious threat to public health.
According to the Deputy Chief Executive of the FDA’s Food Division, Roderick Kwabena Dadie Agyei, laboratory tests have revealed alarming concentrations of lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and mercury (Hg) in products sourced from areas where galamsey is widespread.
Speaking on Eyewitness News on Friday, September 26, 2025, Mr. Agyei said products such as turmeric, cereal mixes (Tom Brown), bentonite clay (“Ayilor”), kohl (“Kaji Kaji”), and certain skin-lightening creams and lotions recorded the highest contamination levels.
“The issue is the areas where these activities are going on and therefore polluting water, and that water is being used on our farms, knowingly or unknowingly,” he explained. “By and large, you can see that illegal mining is playing a big role.”
Contamination Hotspots and Products
A National Summary Report by the FDA confirmed the scale of the problem, showing that:
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Kohl had the highest contamination rate, with 77.79% of samples testing positive for lead.
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The Upper East and Eastern Regions recorded a 100% contamination rate for kohl.
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Turmeric recorded a 42.09% lead contamination rate, with the Greater Accra and Central Regions topping the list.
Mr. Agyei explained that farmers in mining communities often use polluted water to irrigate crops, allowing toxins to enter the food chain.
Call for Collective Action
He stressed that stopping illegal mining is the surest way to protect the nation’s food supply.
“Ghanaians should talk to each other. You may have a brother, relative or friend who may be into this practice. In the end, it is not making us safe when it finds its way into the food chain,” he said. “It is not the time to blame people but to look at ways of solving the problem. One of the sure ways is to ensure that this illegal mining stops.”
Threat to Children’s Health
Health Specialist at UNICEF Ghana, Rev. Dr. Emmanuel Kyerematen Amoah, warned that even the smallest amount of lead in the body can have devastating effects, particularly on children.
“Lead exposure can damage developing organs, reduce IQ, and cause kidney and heart-related diseases,” he cautioned.
A National Responsibility
The FDA is urging all Ghanaians to join forces to fight galamsey, warning that failure to act will endanger food security, public health, and the country’s future.
