Sir Sam Jonah, the Renowned Ghanaian businessman and mining executive, has said galamsey activities are destroying Ghana’s rivers, forests and farmland.
According to Sam Jonah, galamsey activities have turned our rivers into ‘chocolate milk’
He further expressed concern about the deteriorating condition of rivers, forests and farmlands, noting that water bodies that once sustained communities had become heavily polluted by mining activities.
Sir Sam Jonah warned that the consequences of gaamsey extend far beyond environmental degradation to threaten livelihoods, food production, biodiversity and access to safe drinking water.
He cautioned that the pollution of rivers could also increase the burden on water treatment systems and the cost of providing potable water to affected communities.
Speaking at the Methodist University Ghana International Conference 2026 on Thursday, October 15, Sir Sam stated, “Illegal mining, galamsey, is destroying our rivers, our forests and our farmland. Rivers that fed our grandparents now run the colour of chocolate milk”.
Sam Jonah further noted that the crisis is a reflection of the failure of stewardship.
“It is what happens when people gain all they can and forget Wesley’s condition about not hurting their neighbour. But stewardship is not only about the land. It is also about money and talent,” he said.
In related news, Oliver Barker-Vormawor, a social activist and private legal practitioner, has declared that Ghana has lost the fight against illegal mining commonly known as galamsey.
According to Oliver Barker-Vormawor, Ghanaians should not fall for any propaganda by the Mahama government that claims they are winning the fight against galamsey.
In a social media post on X, Oliver Barker-Vormawor wrote, “We have lost the fight against Galamsey. Don’t believe any propaganda. Travel and see. Shalom”.
Some Ghanaians reacting to his post stated, “How can it stop when the government itself largely depends on it to manage the economy?
We are producing more gold than ever to generate foreign exchange, and it’s all from “small scale mining”.
Not to talk about the other host of reasons why galamsey is unlikely to stop soon”.
One X user added, “In a 2024 report, WaterAid warned that Ghana might have to import water by 2030 under a “business-as-usual” scenario as drinking water sources shrink due to pollution, especially from galamsey.
The state water utility has repeatedly cautioned that without curbing illegal mining and pollution, Ghana risks becoming an importer of water by 2030.
Researchers from the University of Cape Coast have stated that Ghana may have to import water by 2030 because of the inability to treat highly turbid water.
The Water Research Institute has warned that if current pollution trends continue, there could be no treatable surface or groundwater by 2030, implying the need to import water.
The core driver is severe pollution of major rivers, such as the Pra, Ankobra, and others, from galamsey, which has:
Raised turbidity levels far beyond treatment thresholds
Reduced GWCL’s capacity to supply clean water in some areas by up to 75%
Increased treatment costs and made some sources effectively untreatable with current infrastructure
Why is the government not actively implementing measures to address galamsey?”
@ghnow_ NPP First Vice Chairman, Kojo Fosu Bamba, has been spotted at the Accra High Court for Chairman Wontumi’s bail application hearing. #GHNow #fyp ♬ Faith – Kweku Smoke & Lasmid
@ghnow_ Paul Yandoh has been spotted at the Accra High Court for the bail hearing of Chairman Wontumi #GHNow #fyp ♬ original sound – Kofi Kinaata
