The Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana (PSG) has warned that the country risks importing water to support local pharmaceutical production if the illegal mining canker is not addressed urgently.

The society made this warning at its 2024 annual general meeting, citing the devastating impact of illegal mining on water bodies and the subsequent increase in the cost of treating water for manufacturing.

According to PSG, the treatment of water for local production of pharmaceutical products is becoming increasingly expensive due to the environmental degradation caused by illegal mining activities.

The society emphasised that this added cost contributes to the high cost of medicine in Ghana.

The PSG President, Dr Samuel Kow Donkoh, warned that if measures are not taken to address the illegal mining menace, Ghana may soon face the reality of importing water to support local manufacturing industries.

He noted that Ghana’s local manufacturers currently produce all the infusions needed in the country, but they require quality water to do so.

The society is urging the government to put stringent measures in place to tackle illegal mining activities, which threaten the sources of water used for various purposes.

“The activities of illegal miners in particular have devastated our water bodies, making it increasingly expensive for pharmaceutical companies to treat water for their manufacturing processes. Ghana currently enjoys self-sufficiency in local production of infusions but illegal mining threatens this achievement.

“If this environmental degradation continues, we may soon face the grave reality of importing water to support our local manufacturing industry. The pollution from these mining activities is so severe that expensive technology is also required to treat water, contributing to the high cost of medicines. We therefore call on the government to take urgent decisive action to end this lawlessness.”