Accra, April 13, 2026 — A researcher at the Centre for Plant Medicine Research, Prince Mawutor, has cautioned that illegal mining activities and chemical pollution are increasingly destroying medicinal plant resources and posing risks to public health.
He explained that forest degradation and contamination of soil and water bodies are reducing both the availability and safety of plant-based materials used in traditional and modern pharmaceutical production.
Dr Mawutor noted that many active compounds used in herbal and pharmaceutical products are derived from plants that thrive in undisturbed forest ecosystems, which are now under threat from mining expansion.
He said the destruction of forest reserves disrupts ecological conditions such as shade, sunlight balance, and soil integrity, all of which are essential for the survival of medicinal plant species.
According to him, mining activities introduce toxic substances including mercury, lead, acids, and selenium into the environment, displacing nutrients required for healthy plant growth.
He warned that such contamination affects phytochemicals in plants, reducing their medicinal effectiveness while increasing harmful residues absorbed into plant tissues.
Dr Mawutor further explained that polluted water sources compound the problem, as heavy metals are absorbed into leaves, bark, and roots—parts commonly used in herbal medicine preparation.
He cautioned that consumption of contaminated herbal products could lead to serious health conditions, including developmental abnormalities, birth defects, and organ damage affecting the kidneys and liver.
The researcher added that the Centre has introduced strict laboratory testing protocols to screen raw materials for heavy metal contamination before use in production.
He stressed that materials exceeding safety thresholds are rejected to protect public health and maintain product quality standards.
Dr Mawutor warned that continued expansion of illegal mining could severely constrain access to safe medicinal plant resources, affecting both herbal medicine producers and communities that depend on them.
He called for large-scale cultivation of key medicinal species such as Khaya senegalensis, Morinda lucida, Monodora myristica, and Clausena to ensure sustainability.
He also urged stricter enforcement of environmental laws and stronger public education on the long-term consequences of illegal mining on health and biodiversity.
Dr Mawutor concluded that unchecked environmental degradation could undermine food security, water availability, and healthcare systems, calling for urgent collective action to protect forest ecosystems.
GHBUSS
April 13, 2026
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