Breast Society calls for immediate action against Galamsey

Accra, Ghana - The Breast Society of Ghana has sounded the alarm on the devastating health consequences of illegal mining, or galamsey, calling for an immediate halt to these activities.

Toxic chemicals used in galamsey operations are putting thousands of lives at risk, with alarming increases in birth deformities and cancer cases.

Dr. Hannah Ayettey Anie, President of the Breast Society of Ghana, emphasized the urgency of the situation during the launch of Pinktober 2024, a breast cancer awareness campaign.

“These chemicals [used in illegal mining] are injurious to the body. And as for what we will end up finding out, even for cases where we have had radiation disasters and all, we have realised that eventually it led to malformed children and all. So we don’t know what this will lead to in the long run," she stated.

“[Galamsey] is definitely harmful. So we also want to use this platform to tell people, all those who are involved in this galamsey and illegal mining to stop so that we don’t end up hurting ourselves because you may think you are isolated doing your own thing somewhere but it will affect you, it will affect your neighbour, it will affect the society as a whole," she added.

Source: Vincent Amoah /Lead News Online