Ghanaian business magnate and mining executive Sir Sam Jonah has warned that illegal mining, widely known as galamsey, is causing extensive damage to the country’s rivers, forests and farmlands, creating serious environmental, economic, public health and ethical concerns.

He lamented the alarming deterioration of Ghana’s water bodies, pointing out that rivers which once served as reliable sources of clean water and supported surrounding communities are increasingly being contaminated by mining operations.

Sir Sam Jonah made the observations on Thursday, October 15, 2026, during an address at the Methodist University Ghana International Conference 2026, held as part of activities to commemorate the university’s 25th anniversary.

He said the scale of environmental destruction reflected a worrying failure to protect the country’s natural resources and uphold the responsibility to preserve them for future generations.

“Illegal mining, galamsey, is destroying our rivers, our forests and our farmland. Rivers that fed our grandparents now run the colour of chocolate milk. This is not only an environmental problem. It is an economic problem, a health problem and, in the end, a moral problem.

“It is what happens when people gain all they can and forget Wesley’s condition about not hurting their neighbour. But stewardship is not only about the land. It is also about money and talent.”

Illegal mining has been linked to widespread pollution of rivers and other water bodies, the destruction of forest reserves and the degradation of productive agricultural land.

These activities threaten the livelihoods of many communities, particularly those whose economic activities depend on farming, fishing and other natural resources.

The impact on water bodies has become a major concern, especially regarding the treatment of polluted water, the availability of safe drinking water and the additional costs involved in supplying potable water to affected areas.

The destruction of forests and farmlands also threatens agricultural productivity, biodiversity and the sustainable management of the country’s natural resources, raising concerns about the long-term environmental and economic consequences of galamsey.