Ghana risks importing water as miners struggle to afford mercury-free gold catchers

Ghana is facing the possibility of importing water, as pollution from mercury used in artisanal and small-scale mining endangers rivers and public health. Despite the government investing $10 million to procure 100 mercury-free gold processing machines, miners are struggling to afford them, procured at $113,000 each. At a symposium organized by the U.S. Embassy in Accra, experts called for a paradigm shift to address the issue.

The adoption of these machines remains limited because many miners cannot afford them, while there is a lack of trust in their performance and difficulties in repairing them. Experts warn that without urgent intervention, communities in mining areas like Tarkwa could be forced to import safe drinking water within the next two years.