A nephrologist at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Dr Kingsley Amoah, has warned that toxic heavy metals from illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, are contaminating Ghana’s treated water supply and contributing to a growing burden of kidney disease across the country.
Speaking in an interview with JoyNews on July 6, 2026, Dr Amoah said pollution from galamsey has spread far beyond mining communities, with contaminants finding their way into water supplied to households nationwide.
According to him, the health consequences of illegal mining are becoming increasingly evident, as hospitals continue to record rising numbers of patients suffering from chronic kidney disease.
“All these heavy metals actually go beyond the communities where illegal mining is happening. It’s going into almost every home which is supplied by Ghana Water. Health professionals are increasingly urging the public to take preventive steps, including regular medical checkups, lifestyle changes and physical exercise as key tools in reducing risk,” he said.
Dr Amoah noted that the challenge extends beyond Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, with healthcare facilities across Ghana seeing similar trends in kidney disease cases.
He lamented that many patients only seek medical attention when the disease has reached its most advanced stage, leaving them with limited treatment options.
“A majority of them come in in late stages, like chronic kidney disease stage five, where they have reached the end of the disease process and cannot have treatment that will reverse this, other than dialysis or kidney transplantation,” he explained.
The nephrologist stressed that early detection remains one of the most effective ways to prevent kidney failure and urged Ghanaians to undergo routine medical screening.
He encouraged the public to prioritise annual health checkups, maintain healthy lifestyles and engage in regular physical exercise to reduce their risk of developing chronic kidney disease.
His warning adds to growing concerns about the environmental and public health impact of illegal mining, which continues to pollute rivers and other water bodies across Ghana despite ongoing efforts to curb the practice.
