An EPA official at Twifo Praso says boiling river water polluted by illegal mining kills bacteria but leaves toxic mercury, cyanide and arsenic behind.

Published 11 Nov 2026, 08:40 GMT

2 min read

Illegal miners at a galamsey pit — An illegal mining site (file photo)

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David Agyekum Baidoo, an official at the EPA's Twifo Praso office in the Central Region, told the Ghana News Agency on Tuesday, November 10, that many rural villages and hamlets without pipe-borne water still rely on galamsey-contaminated streams for daily household use.

He cautioned that while boiling destroys bacteria, it cannot remove poisonous sediments or toxic heavy metals and processing chemicals such as mercury, cyanide and arsenic.

"The notion that boiled galamsey-contaminated water is safe for drinking and other domestic activities is false. While boiling kills bacteria, it does not remove harmful chemicals such as mercury and cyanide," the Authority said.

Baidoo said using such water for drinking, bathing, crop irrigation or livestock exposes residents to severe long-term health conditions, including kidney damage, neurological harm and birth defects.

Instead of boiling polluted river water, Baidoo urged affected households to use treated water and other safe alternative supplies for drinking and domestic chores.

Beyond direct health hazards, Baidoo said illegal mining degrades forests, farmlands and soil, threatening rural livelihoods and national food security.

He added that the EPA is not opposed to mining itself, noting that the regulator assists prospective operators to secure environmental permits while monitoring compliance and enforcing standards for legal, sustainable mining.

Araba IncoomAraba Incoom writes on multiple topics with a vast knowledge across different sector. You can almost call me an AI, after all, my initials are Araba Incoom.

EPA warns communities: boiling galamsey-polluted water does not make it safe to drink

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