Dr Ebenezer Agyemang Urges NDC Government to Prioritise Galamsey Fight in Resetting Ghana Agenda

The Chief Executive Officer of Ebenage Herbal, producers of Hepa Plus, Pavi, and Plasma, Dr Ebenezer Agyemang, has called on the NDC government to make the fight against illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, a key focus of its “Resetting Ghana” agenda.

He made the appeal at the 15th Anniversary and 12th Graduation Ceremony of Say-Adsam Educational Complex at Kotwi in the Atwima-Kwanwoma District, where he underscored the urgent need for decisive measures to halt the destruction caused by illegal mining activities across the country.

According to Dr Agyemang, galamsey continues to wreak havoc on Ghana’s environment, farmlands, and water bodies, posing a serious threat to food security, public health, and the survival of the herbal medicine industry. “The activities of illegal mining have devastated our water bodies, making it expensive for herbal companies to treat water for production purposes. If this environmental degradation continues, Ghana may soon be forced to import water, plantain, cassava, and other foodstuffs before we can enjoy wholesome food,” he warned.

He explained that the herbal medicine industry, which relies heavily on clean water and uncontaminated natural plants, faces grave danger if galamsey is not curtailed. He said the continuous pollution of rivers and farmlands with mercury and other toxic chemicals compromises the quality of medicinal plants, thereby affecting the standardisation and safety of herbal drugs.

Dr Agyemang advised herbal practitioners to take proactive steps by cultivating their own medicinal plants for future use. He noted that he had personally begun planting trees and herbs to guarantee sustainable raw materials for his company’s products. He also urged the government to invest in organic farming of medicinal plants to ensure the continuous availability of safe, high-quality raw materials for herbal medicine production.

He lamented that several medicinal plants had either gone extinct or lost their potency due to the excessive use of pesticides, weedicides, and chemicals from mining activities. “The standardisation of traditional and alternative medicine hinges on the quality of raw materials. Once these qualities are compromised, it becomes extremely difficult to guarantee the safety and effectiveness of the medicines we produce,” he stressed.

In addition to calling for a crackdown on galamsey, Dr Agyemang recommended the introduction of alternative livelihood programmes to help small-scale miners transition to environmentally friendly and legal occupations. He also urged the government to prioritise health screenings for miners and residents of mining communities to assess the extent of mercury poisoning and other health-related risks.

He cautioned that without urgent intervention, illegal mining could cripple both Ghana’s agriculture and herbal medicine sectors, forcing the country to depend on imports for basic food and medicinal needs. “We cannot afford to compromise the health of our people. Protecting our water bodies and natural resources must be a national priority if we truly want to reset Ghana for sustainable development,” Dr Agyemang concluded.

His call adds to the growing concerns from traditional leaders, civil society organisations, and health experts who have persistently appealed to government to halt the menace of galamsey, which has left behind a trail of environmental devastation across the country.