Minister of Environment, Science and Technology, Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, has warned that the pursuit of gold through illegal mining must not come at the expense of Ghana’s natural resources and the well-being of future generations.

She raised concerns about the devastating impact of illegal mining on the environment following a field visit to mining sites in Osino, where she observed the extent of the destruction.

In a Facebook post shared on October 28, 2026, she stressed that the country’s natural resources were finite, warning that some environmental damage could take generations to reverse, while other losses might never be repaired.

“We cannot eat gold. We cannot drink gold. And no amount of wealth can replace our environment,” she indicated.

Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings storms Osino galamsey site, demands urgent action

Dr Agyeman-Rawlings noted that the consequences of environmental destruction extended beyond mining sites, threatening the water people drink, the food they eat, the soil that supports farmers, as well as public health and livelihoods.

“What is the value of gold if our rivers are poisoned, our farmlands are rendered unproductive, and our children inherit an environment that can no longer sustain them?” she asked.

She added that protecting the environment was not solely the responsibility of the government or regulatory institutions, but a collective duty requiring accountability and a fundamental change in attitudes towards natural resources.

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