Galamsey: The deadly dig for gold - BBC Africa

Ghana’s western region is a hotbed for illegal gold mining, known as galamsey. It’s destroying the country’s forest reserves and polluting rivers that locals use for drinking water. Ghanaians have even been protesting in the streets over galamsey and it has also become a hot issue in the presidential election. The BBC has discovered that water around illegal mining sites contain around 500 times more mercury than the World Health Organisation guideline for safe drinking water. But why are the miners using this highly toxic chemical knowing the harm it causes? The BBC's Thomas Naadi reports. #galamsey #ghanagalamsey #galamseydocumentary Subscribe: http://bit.ly/subscribetoafrica Website: https://www.bbc.com/africa Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bbcnewsafrica/ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/bbcafrica/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bbcafrica/