Ghana was first a Portuguese, then a British colony. It was baptised the Gold Coast because of the abundant gold deposits found there. Even today, it remains the leading African country exporting gold, which also reaches us here in Italy.

We ventured into the heart of the Atewa Forest, one of West Africa’s most vital green lungs. This forest is surrounded by gold mines, mostly illegal operations, which cause two devastating effects: they often seize land from local farmers, destroying the local economy and leaving hundreds of people landless and jobless. Additionally, they result in an environmental catastrophe due to the pollution from mercury, the same mineral once found in thermometers that is crucial for processing and refining gold. Mercury poisons the land, and especially the water and rivers in Ghana, which are among the most polluted in the world.

However, the effects of mercury aren’t immediate; it takes time for its dangers to manifest in the form of rising cancer rates and children born with deformities. Many of the illegal miners are unaware of this, or worse, they choose to ignore it. And as end consumers, we (those who buy gold from jewelry stores) must begin to be aware of the impact, so we don’t remain complicit.

In Ghana, that awareness is fostered through an impressive communication system: community radio stations. A small group of experts, activists, and journalists work tirelessly every day with information and education programs to help Ghanaians protect themselves. It is through radio that our story unfolds, starting with the voices and perspectives of illegal miners.