Galamsey Legacy: Kontomire—From Blood-Tonic Provider to Silent Killer
September 24, 2025
In a shocking revelation that underscores the deepening impact of illegal mining on public health, new tests have confirmed that kontomire—a staple leafy vegetable widely consumed across Ghana—is now showing dangerous levels of toxic metals in areas affected by galamsey.
Once revered as a “natural blood tonic” rich in iron, vitamins, and folate, kontomire is now being described by health experts as a “silent killer”, contaminated by mercury, lead, and other heavy metals leaching into farmlands from nearby illegal mining operations.
Findings from Eastern Region
An investigation conducted in farming communities near Atiwa West and Fanteakwa, where illegal mining is rampant, revealed alarming results. Laboratory analysis of kontomire, cassava, garden eggs, and other crops found mercury concentrations up to 3.5 times above safe thresholds, and lead levels exceeding WHO-recommended limits.
“These are crops grown directly in polluted soils and irrigated with contaminated water from galamsey-impacted streams,” said Dr. Lydia Akoto, an environmental toxicologist who supervised the tests. “The roots absorb the metals, and the leaves—especially in leafy crops like kontomire—accumulate them in dangerous quantities.”
A Hidden Health Crisis
The health implications are serious. Chronic exposure to heavy metals such as lead and mercury has been linked to:
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Neurological damage
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Kidney failure
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Reproductive health disorders
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Developmental issues in children
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Long-term carcinogenic effects
“Because the effects are not immediate, people keep eating the same food without realizing the long-term risks,” said Dr. Akoto. “That’s what makes it a silent killer.”
Galamsey’s Expanding Threat to Food Security
Illegal mining has long been known for its environmental destruction—polluted rivers, deforested land, and displaced communities. But this new dimension adds a more intimate threat: poisoning the food on the table.
“Now it’s not just about rivers turning brown. It’s about food that looks fresh and green but is slowly harming those who eat it,” said Kwesi Asamoah, a farmer from Osino, whose kontomire farm tested positive for high levels of lead.
Health officials, NGOs, and farming cooperatives are calling on the government to:
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Conduct nationwide soil and crop testing
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Create a food-safety task force for galamsey-affected regions
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Designate “safe farming zones” with uncontaminated water sources
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Enforce stricter penalties for illegal mining near agricultural lands
“Food security is national security,” said Madam Rebecca Mensah of the Ghana Federation of Agricultural Producers. “This is not just an environmental issue. It’s a public health emergency.”
Public Advisory
Until comprehensive testing is conducted, consumers are advised to be cautious about sourcing kontomire and other vegetables from galamsey-impacted zones. Washing or cooking may not remove heavy metal contamination, experts warn.
