The Ghana Association of Radiologists (GAR) has called on the government to crack down harder on illegal mining, known as galamsey, warning that pollutants from the practice are driving up kidney disease cases nationwide.
The Association said reckless use of mercury and cyanide in artisanal gold operations is poisoning major rivers and exposing communities to toxins that can harm the kidneys and other organs.
Speaking at the launch of the Association’s 14th Annual General and Scientific Meeting (AGSM) in Accra, GAR President, Dr Francis Ofei, labelled the trend a public health emergency.
“Permit me to underscore the devastating contribution of illegal artisanal mining, popularly known as galamsey, to the rising tide of kidney disease in our country,” he said.
“The indiscriminate use of mercury and cyanide in artisanal gold mining operations has resulted in catastrophic contamination of our water bodies, and by extension, the water that millions of Ghanaians depend on.
“This situation is not merely an environmental issue. It is a public health catastrophe,” Dr Ofei stressed.
A recent Ghana News Agency report quoting Physician Specialist and Nephrology Fellow Dr Mensah Amoah said about 13 per cent of Ghanaian adults, roughly four million people, have chronic kidney disease.
The report found many patients fall within 20 to 50 years, the country’s core working population.
Dr Ofei said the kidney disease load is heaviest in areas exposed to risks like galamsey.He named the Pra, Birim, Ankobra and Offin among rivers severely fouled by illegal mining.
He explained that mercury and cyanide get into the body via tainted water and food, overworking the kidneys as they filter blood.
“With repeated exposure, the kidneys give up eventually,” he said.
The meeting, themed “From Kidneys to Urethra: Imaging the Genitourinary System in the Era of Multidisciplinary Care,” gathered radiologists, nephrologists, urologists, clinicians and other health workers to review imaging breakthroughs and teamwork in patient care.
Dr Ofei noted chronic kidney disease often shows no early signs, making timely detection vital, yet many patients report only when the illness is advanced.He blamed late hospital visits on poor public awareness and scarce diagnostic access in parts of the country.
The GAR President urged citizens to get routine health screens and not dismiss odd symptoms.“You do check-ups not because you have issues per se. It becomes routine,” he said.
Dr Ofei also pressed for more funding for imaging tools, including ultrasound units, CT scanners and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machines, to boost early diagnosis and care. He said ultrasound remains the most available tool for spotting kidney and urinary tract problems before referrals for advanced scans if needed.
Dr Ofei further emphasized teamwork among radiologists, clinicians, nephrologists and urologists to lift healthcare delivery.
“We have realised that most of the time, healthcare delivery is done in silos. The clinician is doing their own thing, the radiologist is also doing their own thing. I think that it is time for us to now resort to what we call a multidisciplinary approach when it comes to healthcare,” he said.“Gone are the days when the radiologist wrote a report and figuratively handed it over a wall. Today, radiologists sit at the table.”
