A surreal, digitally rendered scene of numerous stilted huts with thatched roofs arranged in a precise, geometric pattern over a dark body of water. Wooden canoes are scattered between the structures, and small ladders lead up to each hut. The lighting casts dramatic shadows, emphasizing the repetition and density of the floating settlement.

Poisoned City

A speculative reflection on environmental destruction and human resilience in Ghana's illegal mining crisis.

A speculative reflection on environmental destruction and human resilience in Ghana's illegal mining crisis.

A speculative reflection on environmental destruction and human resilience in Ghana's illegal mining crisis.

Tracing a crisis.

Over the past two decades, Ghana has faced an escalating environmental crisis driven by the rise of illegal gold mining, known locally as galamsey. Once a small-scale practice, it has expanded into an unregulated industry with devastating consequences: scarred landscapes, poisoned rivers, and destabilized rural communities. Its unchecked spread reflects deeper failures in governance, equity, and ecological stewardship.

Over the past two decades, Ghana has faced an escalating environmental crisis driven by the rise of illegal gold mining, known locally as galamsey. Once a small-scale practice, it has expanded into an unregulated industry with devastating consequences: scarred landscapes, poisoned rivers, and destabilized rural communities. Its unchecked spread reflects deeper failures in governance, equity, and ecological stewardship.

Over the past two decades, Ghana has faced an escalating environmental crisis driven by the rise of illegal gold mining, known locally as galamsey. Once a small-scale practice, it has expanded into an unregulated industry with devastating consequences: scarred landscapes, poisoned rivers, and destabilized rural communities. Its unchecked spread reflects deeper failures in governance, equity, and ecological stewardship.

Aerial view of the Tano River in Ghana, its water visibly polluted with a muddy orange hue. The surrounding landscape is scarred by numerous illegal mining sites, with patches of bare earth, excavation pits filled with stagnant water, and makeshift roads cutting through the greenery. Dense forest borders the disrupted terrain, and hills stretch into the distance under a cloudy sky.
Aerial view of the Tano River in Ghana, its water visibly polluted with a muddy orange hue. The surrounding landscape is scarred by numerous illegal mining sites, with patches of bare earth, excavation pits filled with stagnant water, and makeshift roads cutting through the greenery. Dense forest borders the disrupted terrain, and hills stretch into the distance under a cloudy sky.
Aerial view of the Tano River in Ghana, its water visibly polluted with a muddy orange hue. The surrounding landscape is scarred by numerous illegal mining sites, with patches of bare earth, excavation pits filled with stagnant water, and makeshift roads cutting through the greenery. Dense forest borders the disrupted terrain, and hills stretch into the distance under a cloudy sky.
Aerial view of the Tano River in Ghana, its water visibly polluted with a muddy orange hue. The surrounding landscape is scarred by numerous illegal mining sites, with patches of bare earth, excavation pits filled with stagnant water, and makeshift roads cutting through the greenery. Dense forest borders the disrupted terrain, and hills stretch into the distance under a cloudy sky.
Aerial view of the Tano River in Ghana, its water visibly polluted with a muddy orange hue. The surrounding landscape is scarred by numerous illegal mining sites, with patches of bare earth, excavation pits filled with stagnant water, and makeshift roads cutting through the greenery. Dense forest borders the disrupted terrain, and hills stretch into the distance under a cloudy sky.

Aerial shot of the polluted Tano River. Illegal mines pockmark the surrounding landscape. Source: CNN

Drawing destruction, adaptation, and loss.

Poisoned City is a visual meditation on the long-term impact of galamsey. Through three speculative drawings, it captures the brutal present and projects potential futures, tracing a path from extraction to collapse.

Poisoned City is a visual meditation on the long-term impact of galamsey. Through three speculative drawings, it captures the brutal present and projects potential futures, tracing a path from extraction to collapse.

Poisoned City is a visual meditation on the long-term impact of galamsey. Through three speculative drawings, it captures the brutal present and projects potential futures, tracing a path from extraction to collapse.

Drawing I - Reality

A depiction of the harsh conditions inside a galamsey mine. Children, often exploited for labor, appear as silhouettes in a barren, contaminated landscape. The image mourns the lives lost and spotlights the urgent human cost behind informal extraction.

A depiction of the harsh conditions inside a galamsey mine. Children, often exploited for labor, appear as silhouettes in a barren, contaminated landscape. The image mourns the lives lost and spotlights the urgent human cost behind informal extraction.

A depiction of the harsh conditions inside a galamsey mine. Children, often exploited for labor, appear as silhouettes in a barren, contaminated landscape. The image mourns the lives lost and spotlights the urgent human cost behind informal extraction.

A speculative illustration of an illegal mining site, with reddish earth and shadowy silhouettes of workers—some carrying baskets, others crouched by contaminated water. Scattered mining tools like pans, hard hats, and a wheelbarrow suggest labor and danger amid environmental degradation.
A speculative illustration of an illegal mining site, with reddish earth and shadowy silhouettes of workers—some carrying baskets, others crouched by contaminated water. Scattered mining tools like pans, hard hats, and a wheelbarrow suggest labor and danger amid environmental degradation.
A speculative illustration of an illegal mining site, with reddish earth and shadowy silhouettes of workers—some carrying baskets, others crouched by contaminated water. Scattered mining tools like pans, hard hats, and a wheelbarrow suggest labor and danger amid environmental degradation.
A speculative illustration of an illegal mining site, with reddish earth and shadowy silhouettes of workers—some carrying baskets, others crouched by contaminated water. Scattered mining tools like pans, hard hats, and a wheelbarrow suggest labor and danger amid environmental degradation.
A speculative illustration of an illegal mining site, with reddish earth and shadowy silhouettes of workers—some carrying baskets, others crouched by contaminated water. Scattered mining tools like pans, hard hats, and a wheelbarrow suggest labor and danger amid environmental degradation.
Digital rendering of a flooded landscape filled with stilted, thatch-roofed structures arranged in rhythmic rows. Small wooden canoes float in the dark water below, evoking a city submerged by rising waters or human-caused flooding.
Digital rendering of a flooded landscape filled with stilted, thatch-roofed structures arranged in rhythmic rows. Small wooden canoes float in the dark water below, evoking a city submerged by rising waters or human-caused flooding.
Digital rendering of a flooded landscape filled with stilted, thatch-roofed structures arranged in rhythmic rows. Small wooden canoes float in the dark water below, evoking a city submerged by rising waters or human-caused flooding.
Digital rendering of a flooded landscape filled with stilted, thatch-roofed structures arranged in rhythmic rows. Small wooden canoes float in the dark water below, evoking a city submerged by rising waters or human-caused flooding.
Digital rendering of a flooded landscape filled with stilted, thatch-roofed structures arranged in rhythmic rows. Small wooden canoes float in the dark water below, evoking a city submerged by rising waters or human-caused flooding.

Drawing II - Adaptation

Drawing II - Adaptation

Drawing II - Adaptation

In a future where rivers run toxic and villages flood, homes rise on stilts and boats replace roads. Life continues, but only through painful accommodation. The drawing reflects both community resilience and systemic failure.

In a future where rivers run toxic and villages flood, homes rise on stilts and boats replace roads. Life continues, but only through painful accommodation. The drawing reflects both community resilience and systemic failure.

In a future where rivers run toxic and villages flood, homes rise on stilts and boats replace roads. Life continues, but only through painful accommodation. The drawing reflects both community resilience and systemic failure.

Drawing III - Loss

Cultural and ecological memory is reduced to artifact. Once abundant cocoa trees and medicinal plants are preserved only as museum specimens. A severing of land, identity, and history, offering a stark warning about what unchecked exploitation erases.

Cultural and ecological memory is reduced to artifact. Once abundant cocoa trees and medicinal plants are preserved only as museum specimens. A severing of land, identity, and history, offering a stark warning about what unchecked exploitation erases.

Cultural and ecological memory is reduced to artifact. Once abundant cocoa trees and medicinal plants are preserved only as museum specimens. A severing of land, identity, and history, offering a stark warning about what unchecked exploitation erases.

Imagined museum-like grid of glowing glass cubes, each containing a different extinct plant specimen. Human figures wander through the dark, reflective space, suggesting a future where nature is preserved only behind glass.
Imagined museum-like grid of glowing glass cubes, each containing a different extinct plant specimen. Human figures wander through the dark, reflective space, suggesting a future where nature is preserved only behind glass.
Imagined museum-like grid of glowing glass cubes, each containing a different extinct plant specimen. Human figures wander through the dark, reflective space, suggesting a future where nature is preserved only behind glass.
Imagined museum-like grid of glowing glass cubes, each containing a different extinct plant specimen. Human figures wander through the dark, reflective space, suggesting a future where nature is preserved only behind glass.
Imagined museum-like grid of glowing glass cubes, each containing a different extinct plant specimen. Human figures wander through the dark, reflective space, suggesting a future where nature is preserved only behind glass.
A call for reckoning.

Together, these drawings imagine what happens when the land gives out, and ask: Who survives? Who is remembered? What remains?

Together, these drawings imagine what happens when the land gives out, and ask: Who survives? Who is remembered? What remains?

Together, these drawings imagine what happens when the land gives out, and ask: Who survives? Who is remembered? What remains?

Poisoned City invites a deeper reckoning with extractive economies and their cultural consequences. It calls for futures rooted in ecological justice, cultural continuity, and collective responsibility.

Poisoned City invites a deeper reckoning with extractive economies and their cultural consequences. It calls for futures rooted in ecological justice, cultural continuity, and collective responsibility.

Poisoned City invites a deeper reckoning with extractive economies and their cultural consequences. It calls for futures rooted in ecological justice, cultural continuity, and collective responsibility.

MADE WITH

Blender, Photoshop, Lightroom

TEAM

Shameemah Fuseini-Codjoe

A fluid, evolving little corner of the internet, designed by Shameemah in Spline and Framer. © 2025