The Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana has raised alarm over the potential threat posed by illegal mining activities to the country’s agricultural exports.
The association warns that if the issue of illegal mining, commonly referred to as galamsey is not urgently addressed, Ghana may face significant challenges in selling its exported food products on the international market, particularly in Europe.
The association’s concern stems from reports indicating that exported food products from Ghana, including staple commodities like cocoa, yams, and vegetables, have been found to contain traces of harmful heavy metals.
Heavy metals, such as mercury are often introduced into the soil and water through illegal mining operations, which use toxic chemicals to extract gold and other minerals.
As these pollutants leach into the water bodies and farmlands, they contaminate the food grown in these regions, rendering it unsafe for consumption, particularly in regions with strict food safety regulations like the European Union.
Samson Asaaki Awingobit, the president of the Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana, emphasised the gravity of the situation.
He pointed out that the EU has consistently enforced rigorous food safety standards, and that any indication of contamination could lead to an outright ban on Ghanaian agricultural exports.
Such a ban would have devastating economic consequences for Ghana, given that the EU is one of the country’s largest trading partners.
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CitiBusiness
