Pure Ghana Launches Mercury Impact Assessment Project to Enhance Environmental Sustainability and Public Health

Pure Earth Ghana, a non-profit organization collaborating with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and supported by the UK government through the Environmental Fund (TEF), has launched a new project focused on assessing the impact of mercury contamination.

This initiative aims to enhance environmental sustainability and public health.

The Country Director of Pure Earth Ghana, Rev. Dr. Esmond Quansah addressed the media, emphasizing that the project's primary objective is to conduct a thorough mercury assessment.

This will involve examining food crops, water bodies, and fish to evaluate the extent of mercury contamination in the environment.

Dr. Quansah also noted that the project, valued at two million Ghanaian cedis, will be implemented over the course of one year across four regions; Eastern, Western, Ashanti, and Savannah.

He highlighted that recent research suggests that, without intervention, the country may face the need to import water in the coming years.
 
Additionally, the Principal Programme Officer at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Mr. Hopeson Agyapong noted that illegal mining activities, commonly known as galamsey, have contaminated several water bodies and to address this issue, the EPA has partnered with Pure Earth Ghana to investigate the extent of the damage caused.

Mr. Agyapong explained that the findings from this study will help the EPA develop effective tactics to address the contamination, restore affected areas, and manage the issue going forward.



 Isabella Danso/Peace FM Newsroom