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Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture, John Dumelo, has called for urgent scientific research into the safety of food produced in areas affected by illegal mining, locally known as galamsey, amid fears of chemical contamination.
Speaking to journalists at the launch of FarmSense, an agricultural innovation platform at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Mr. Dumelo said while public concerns about food safety were legitimate, there was not yet conclusive evidence linking produce from mining zones to harmful chemicals.
“Until we do research to ascertain that this food coming from a region, half of them is laced with harmful chemicals, then we can make a certain conclusion,” he said. “But I feel that research should be done very soon to ascertain that indeed this is what is going on so that we conscientise consumers about it.”
He urged calm, noting that no region had yet been scientifically confirmed as producing contaminated food.
“I think at this point there shouldn’t be any fears until we do research to conclude that indeed this is what it is, then we take the next line of action,” he added.
Mr. Dumelo highlighted that investigations tailored towards mapping out foods with such pollutants must be conducted immediately to alert consumers against purchasing foodstuff grown in communities found to be growing any ‘poisonous’ crops.
The deputy sector minister lauded the anti-galamsey taskforce in carrying out their mandates to ward off the illegal miners and protect the water bodies and forest covers.
He noted that while the ministry is concerned over the impacts of the illegal mining operations, his office is leaving the charge to the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources to fight the canker.
“We don’t want to overstep our jurisdiction. The lands ministry is dealing with it. The anti-galamsey taskforce is doing an incredible job,” he said.
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