The Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana (PSG) has expressed concern that if illicit mining operations are not immediately stopped, the nation may need to import water to maintain domestic pharmaceutical manufacture.
The PSG issued this warning at the society’s 2024 annual general meeting, highlighting the detrimental effects that illicit mining has on water bodies and the rising costs associated with water treatment, which is necessary for the production of pharmaceuticals.
The PSG clarified that the cost of treating water for the local production of pharmaceutical items is rising as a result of the environmental impact that unlawful mining causes. They said that this burden is a factor in Ghana’s growing medical costs.
Dr. Samuel Kow Donkoh, President of PSG, issued a warning: if swift action is not done to stop illicit mining, Ghana may have to import water to sustain its domestic industry.
He emphasized that access to clean water is crucial for the nation’s pharmaceutical producers, who now supply all of the nation’s infusion needs.
The government is under pressure from the public to take decisive action against illicit mining, which is endangering essential water sources that are used for a variety of purposes.
He added:
“The activities of illegal miners have severely contaminated our water bodies, making it more expensive for pharmaceutical companies to treat water for their manufacturing needs. While Ghana is currently self-sufficient in local infusion production, illegal mining endangers this accomplishment.
If this environmental degradation persists, we may soon confront the stark reality of importing water for our industries. The pollution is so severe that costly technologies are needed to purify the water, further inflating the cost of medicines. We urge the government to take immediate, decisive action to end this lawlessness,”
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