The Ghana Pharmaceutical Society has sounded a dire warning about the future of the country’s local pharmaceutical industry, citing the destructive effects of illegal mining (galamsey) on water resources.
Speaking at a forum in Cape Coast on Thursday, September 25, 2025, the Society revealed that the industry’s survival is heavily dependent on access to clean water for drug manufacturing, especially in infusion production.
“Ghana currently depends on 70% of its medicines on imports.
“The locally produced medicines need quality water for production, especially for infusion manufacturing.
“When our water treatment plants are shut down because of galamsey, we will face a catastrophic scenario,” the Society warned.
The group further stressed that the stakes are higher than just increasing reliance on imports.
“When that happens, we will not only import our medicines, but we will completely collapse our local pharmaceutical industry,” the statement added.
According to the Society, galamsey activities are polluting vital water bodies, threatening not only the environment but also the availability of safe, high-quality raw materials needed for drug production.
