Toxicologist Yakubu Adam has issued a blunt warning that no amount of cooking or seasoning can destroy mercury, a heavy metal found in foodstuffs.
The toxicologist revealed that mercury, which is a heavy metal, has a lifespan of 880 years.
Toxicologist Yakubu Adam directly linked this immutable fact to the recent cases of food poisoning.
He argued that without a decisive end to illegal mining (galamsey), there is no viable solution to the contamination of the food supply.
Speaking on TV3 New Day, Toxicologist Yakubu Adam explained, “When it comes to the mercury that we are talking about, it is a heavy metal and it is also non-biodegradable, meaning it can never be destroyed when it gets into the environment, it stays in the environment.
One thing about this mercury is that if you end up taking it in your body, and you pass on through the natural process when they bury you inside the soil, you go with the mercury in your grave, so this mercury can stay in the environment for about 880 years without being destroyed, and there is nothing that can destroy it.
No amount of heat, no amount of salt, no amount of whatever you think can. You know this is not a bacterial infection or a fungal infection. They are not caused by parasites; this is heavy metals”.
He added, “So, salt water, heating, and everything can never break down this mercury in our food. When it gets into our food, it stays in our food, and we end up consuming it, and it gets into our bodies, and there are a lot of health implications”.
When it gets to our body, the major depositing part is our brain. When it gets there, it can stay in our brain for almost 20 years and can lead to neurological or neuroregenerative problems”.
The Toxicologist added that the only way to stop the exposure is to stop illegal mining (galamsey) or to stop the use of mercury in mining processes.
Also, Prof Dr Paul Poku Sampene Ossei, a forensic Histopathologist and former Head of Pathology at KNUST and Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), has revealed 500 spontaneous abortions linked to galamsey-related placental contamination.
According to him, his ongoing research links at least 500 cases of spontaneous abortions in Ghana to high levels of heavy metals in the placenta caused by galamsey activities.
Speaking on JoyNews’ Newsfile on Saturday, September 27, Prof. Sampene stated, “I have about 500 cases where women go to the hospital and abort their babies because of the concentration of these heavy metals in their placenta”.
“The placentas are all contaminated, polluted with heavy metals,” he said.
Prof. Sampene further highlighted the extent to which illegal mining activities are affecting maternal and child health.
He explained, “The placentas are all contaminated, polluted with heavy metals. I have examined over 4,000 of them from different regions in Ghana, and both the maternal side and the foetal side show these metals.”
“Do we have what it takes to even solve the kidney diseases that are coming out now? Dialysis is very expensive, and nobody gets it for free. Children are also being diagnosed with chronic kidney disease. These are the realities we have to face,” he cautioned.
He further revealed, “Most of them fear for their lives, but they tell me they are recording a lot of deformities in babies. This is very real.
If the child is at risk, let us see how best we can mitigate it so that the child will survive and live a quality life one day.
Otherwise, we will soon see people walking but with very high cognitive impairment. Mercury inhalation alone can damage the brain. We are seriously in trouble,” he warned.
Meanwhile, President John Dramani Mahama invites Civil Society Organisations to a high-level engagement on illegal mining.
The meeting is scheduled for Friday, 3rd October, 2025, at 12:00 noon at Jubilee House.
The dialogue is expected to bring together government officials and civil society leaders to find a lasting solution to the menace of illegal mining.
In a letter issued by Dr Callistus Mahama, Secretary to the President, it indicates the dialogue will serve as a platform for frank and constructive discussions on illegal mining.
The letter stated, “This engagement aims to provide a platform for frank and constructive dialogue between the Government and civil society on the menace of illegal mining, with a view to harnessing collective expertise, perspectives, and solutions to address this national challenge”.
President Mahama’s invitation comes at a time when his government have been receiving backlash over their failure to properly deal with illegal mining.
Watch the video below:
Toxicologist Yakubu Adam has issued a stark warning, stating that no amount of cooking or seasoning can destroy mercury, a heavy metal with a lifespan of 880 years.
— #TV3GH (@tv3_ghana) September 30, 2025
He directly linked this immutable fact to the recent cases of food poisoning, asserting that without a decisive… pic.twitter.com/o0qgjTSJtq