Galamsey fuelling kidney disease crisis in Ghana - Radiologists warn

The Ghana Association of Radiologists (GAR) has called on the government to intensify the fight against illegal mining, warning that pollution from galamsey operations is driving a growing burden of kidney disease. Speaking at the opening of the Association's 14th Annual General and Scientific Meeting in Accra, GAR President Dr Francis Ofei said, "This situation is not merely an environmental issue. It is a public health catastrophe."

Dr. Ofei explained that the indiscriminate use of mercury and cyanide in artisanal gold mining had catastrophically contaminated major water bodies, including the Pra, Birim, Ankobra, and Offin rivers, exposing millions of Ghanaians to substances capable of destroying the kidneys and other organs. A recent Ghana News Agency report cited estimates that about 13 percent of Ghana's adult population - roughly four million people - are living with chronic kidney disease, with many patients falling between the ages of 20 and 50. Dr. Ofei urged the public to make routine medical check-ups a habit.

Dr. Ofei also called for greater investment in diagnostic imaging equipment, including ultrasound machines, CT scanners, and MRI machines, to improve early detection. He stressed the need for a multidisciplinary approach to healthcare, arguing that radiologists, clinicians, nephrologists, and urologists must work together. The conference was held on the theme: "From Kidneys to Urethra: Imaging the Genitourinary System in the Era of Multidisciplinary Care."