A research fellow at the Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), Dr Kwame Asiedu Sarpong has raised serious concerns about the increasing flow of dangerous substances entering the country through its ports.

In a JoyNews’ latest Hotline documentary, “American Paints: The Painter’s Galamsey,” an alarming presence of high-lead paints sold on the Ghanaian market has been uncovered.

Speaking on Joy FM's Super Morning Show, Dr Asiedu said the nation’s ports have become a “gateway for poisons” deliberately being imported by a cartel that seeks to harm the population.

Read also: ‘American’ Paint: JoyNews exposé uncovers toxic lead levels in paints sold in Ghana

“It seems our ports had become a place where poisons are deliberately leaked into the country to come and kill us by a cartel,” Dr Asiedu stated, stressing the urgency of addressing the problem.

He pointed out that while enforcing regulations and ensuring proper oversight were crucial steps, the root cause of the problem also needed to be tackled.

Dr Asiedu called for stronger measures to prevent harmful substances from entering into the country in the first place.

“The solution is to fix the ports,” he emphasised.

The CDD fellow also highlighted the economic aspect of the issue, drawing attention to how the country’s limited foreign exchange reserves are being depleted due to the importation of these harmful substances.

“They are using the already depleted foreign exchange we don’t have to go abroad to get these things to come and poison us,” he remarked.

According to Dr Asiedu, the solution lies in tapping into Ghana’s local manufacturing capacity to produce the goods that are being imported.

He argued that Ghana has the resources and expertise to meet its own needs, reducing reliance on potentially harmful imports that further harm the nation’s health and economic stability.

“We don’t have to go abroad to go and get these things to come and poison us when we have a capacity for local manufacturing,” Dr Asiedu added, calling for a comprehensive strategy that includes strengthening local production and implementing stricter regulations at the ports.

The research shows that exposure to lead-based paint can cause severe cognitive impairments, affecting learning ability, memory, and overall brain development.