Galamsey could trigger global market rejection of Ghana’s exports

The Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana has warned that the country risks losing access to international markets if illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, is not urgently tackled.

The caution follows a recent alert from the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), which linked traces of heavy metal contamination in certain food and cosmetic products on the Ghanaian market to illegal mining activities.

Speaking to the media in Accra on Monday, September 29, 2025, the Association’s Executive Secretary, Samson Asaki Awingobit, cautioned that Ghana’s export trade could face devastating consequences.

“You think by now the Europeans are not monitoring? This is what is going to happen to us. They can turn around and say that they will not take any foodstuffs coming from Ghana because the mercury level is high in our food. Because of our negligence, it will affect all of us,” he said.

Mr. Awingobit stressed that, beyond the environmental and health dangers, galamsey also poses a major economic threat.

“The thing is, we need to take the issue very seriously, and it is also the case that we need to export more to bring proceeds back,” he added.

Meanwhile, the government has intensified its crackdown on illegal mining. On Sunday, September 28, 2025, the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations (NAIMOS) Task Force was deployed in Sunyani, with a directive from the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, to deal “ruthlessly” with anyone engaged in galamsey.