HEPA Plus Founder Warns Policymakers Against Growing Edible Crops on Reclaimed Mining Lands
Founder of HEPA Plus, Dr. Ebenezer Agyemang, has issued a strong warning to policymakers, farmers, and local communities about the dangers of cultivating edible crops on reclaimed mining lands, citing long-term heavy metal contamination.
Dr. Agyemang noted that although land reclamation efforts are often carried out to restore degraded mining sites, the presence of persistent toxic substances in the soil makes such lands unsafe for food production.
“Reclaimed lands may appear fertile on the surface, but many are still contaminated with heavy metals that take decades to break down,” he explained. “For this reason, it is not advisable to grow edible plants on them, no matter how well the soil has been treated.”
He referenced a study conducted by KNUST in collaboration with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) at a legal mining concession in Damang, Western Region. The research found that even after 15 years of rehabilitation — including replanting with species such as Acacia — significant traces of lead, mercury, cadmium, and arsenic compounds were still detected in plants grown on the site.
Dr. Agyemang argued that if well-regulated mining sites show such levels of contamination, the situation could be even worse in areas affected by illegal mining activities, where reclamation is often rushed and insufficient.
He recommended that reclaimed sites should be used strictly for non-edible cash crops, such as rubber, which can thrive without posing health risks to consumers. “Rubber cultivation can create jobs, stimulate local economies, and prevent toxic substances from entering the food chain,” he said.
The herbal scientist warned that consuming crops grown on contaminated soils exposes the public to severe health conditions, including kidney damage, liver disease, cardiovascular complications, and various cancers.
Dr. Agyemang’s organisation, Ebenage Herbal Production and Consult — producers of products such as Plasmox and Pavi — is one of Ghana’s leading herbal enterprises, known for blending traditional herbal knowledge with modern scientific principles. Its flagship product, HEPA Plus, is widely used across the country for natural health support and has earned recognition both locally and internationally.
