Impact of water contamination from galamsey activities on public health in Dunkwa-on-Offin, upper Denkyira East Municipality, Ghana

Illegal small-scale mining also known as “galamsey” in Ghana has severely polluted water bodies, posing health risks to local communities. In the Dunkwa-on-Offin area, the galamsey operations in the Offin River have resulted in the heavy pollution of the river. This study sought to assess the impact of water contamination from galamsey activities on public health in Dunkwa-on-Offin. An analytic cross-sectional survey was conducted among 384 respondents who were randomly recruited, achieving a 100% response rate. A structured questionnaire was used for data collection. Descriptive statistics and chi-square analysis were employed in analysing the quantitative data. Results showed that 56.8% of respondents had moderate knowledge of water contamination, while 96.1% were aware of contamination issues. A significant association was found between water contamination and reported illness (χ 2 = 18.272, p = 0.001). Children were identified as the most affected group (59.0%). Although there is a relatively high level of awareness of water contamination, access to safe water is not adequate due to pollution from illegal small-scale mining activities in the community. There is a need to improve the enforcement of mining laws, access to safe water, and public health programs to mitigate the health impact of water contamination caused by galamsey activities.