{
  "id": 16931404,
  "title": "We cannot eat or drink gold – Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings warns against environmental destruction.",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/28/we-cannot-eat-or-drink-gold-dr-zanetor-agyeman-rawlings-warns-against",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-28T16:31:16.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "MyJoyOnline Ghana",
    "slug": "myjoyonline-ghana",
    "url": "https://www.myjoyonline.com/we-cannot-eat-or-drink-gold-dr-zanetor-agyeman-rawlings-warns-against-environmental-destruction/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Dr. Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, Ghana's Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation, has cautioned against the environmental degradation caused by illegal mining activities. In a recent social media post following a visit to illegal mining sites in Osino, she emphasized that the quest for gold should not jeopardize the well-being of the environment and future generations. Dr. Agyeman-Rawlings highlighted the potential harm to water bodies, farmlands, and soil, which could pose dire consequences for public health, food security, and livelihoods. She challenged the long-term worth of gold if essential natural resources were depleted, posing the question, \"What is the value of gold if our rivers are poisoned, our farmlands are unproductive, and our children inherit an unsustainable environment?\" Dr. Agyeman-Rawlings underscored that the effects of environmental destruction extend far beyond the mining sites, impacting water quality, food production, and agricultural soil. She pointed out that while some natural resources may take generations to recover, others may never be restored. Dr. Agyeman-Rawlings stressed that protecting the environment is a collective responsibility that transcends government and regulatory bodies, calling for a shift in perspective towards sustainable resource use. She urged Ghanaians to weigh the short-term economic benefits against the potential long-term loss of resources that are vital for human survival.",
  "summary": "The Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, has warned against the destruction of Ghana’s natural resources through illegal mining, saying the pursuit of gold must not come at the expense of the environment and human survival.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}