We cannot eat or drink gold – Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings warns against environmental destruction.

The Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, has warned against the destruction of Ghana’s natural resources through illegal mining, saying the pursuit of gold must not come at the expense of the environment and human survival.

She said the degradation of water bodies, farmlands and soil posed a threat to public health, food security and the livelihoods of future generations.

In her social media post following a field visit to illegal mining sites in Osino, facilitated by the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), Dr Agyeman-Rawlings expressed concern about the scale of environmental damage caused by mining activities.

She questioned the long-term value of gold if the natural resources essential for human survival were destroyed in the process.

“What is the value of gold if our rivers are poisoned, our farmlands are rendered unproductive, and our children inherit an environment that can no longer sustain them?” she asked.

She stressed that the consequences of environmental degradation extended beyond mining sites, affecting the quality of water consumed, food produced, and soil used for agriculture.

According to her, the country’s natural resources are finite, and while some may take generations to recover after destruction, others may never be restored.

“We cannot eat gold. We cannot drink gold. And no amount of wealth can replace our environment,” she stated.

Dr Agyeman-Rawlings said environmental protection should not be left solely to government and regulatory institutions, but requires collective responsibility, accountability and a fundamental change in attitudes towards natural resources.

She urged Ghanaians to reconsider the pursuit of short-term economic gains at the expense of environmental sustainability, warning that continued destruction could leave future generations with resources that can no longer sustain their livelihoods.