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Recently, there have been efforts by stakeholders to monitor illegal mining (galamsey) activities, foster their formalization and reclaim the many abandoned wastelands in Ghana. However, limited information exists on the locations, abundance, scope and scale of galamsey types, which hinders the development of effective policy response.
This study a...
Citations
... Illegal small-scale mining is widespread in Ghana despite efforts to curb it. In the Western Region alone, Owusu-Nimo et al. (2018) counted 7470 illegal mining operations in over 300 communities. A widely publicised film by Joy News Hotline Documentary (2022) found that in the Ashanti and Eastern regions, illegal and legal mining activities have reached crisis levels as they have devastated forest and water bodies and rendered masses of land useless for farming due to deserted trenches often the size of several communities. ...
This article interrogates the governance of minerals mining using the lens of leadership and the case study of Ghana. Some experts estimate that small-scale mining accounted for the removal of 25 % of forest cover in Ghana's southwestern areas within the decade ending 2017, despite only accounting for a third of the country's gold production. Despite the centrality of minerals for Ghana's energy transition ambitions and recent alarm expressed by the government, civil society groups, and the international community about the pervasiveness of the crisis, it persists and afflicts environmental sustainability, health and livelihoods within the mining catchment areas. Using primary data from several interviews, digital ethnography, and observations, I depart from existing discourses that document the scope and impact of the crisis to quiz instead, the reasons behind the persistence of the 'illegal' small-scale mining despite availability of laws and public pronouncements by government and other stakeholders against it. The findings show that the absence of process-oriented leadership-that is, the predictable, accountable, and participatory leadership that reconciles the interests of the state and society-accounts for the persistence of small-scale and illegal mining. I propose the utilisation of the social license at the disposal of members of society as a bottom-up remedy to reverse this trend.
... Recent land demand in the region is signi cantly shaped by urbanization, which is a consequence of land use/land cover (LULC) changes linked to the region's growing oil and gas industry, large scale plantation agriculture development and population growth [54][55][56] . Traditional arable land uses are being displaced in favor of mining and in some instances, illegal mining operations 57,58 . Food crop (including cassava, plantain and cocoyam) farming is undertaken at the subsistence level. ...
Urbanization is a key driver of coastal habitats degradation in West Africa. Habitat restoration is strongly advocated to mitigate urbanization impacts in West African coastal areas. However, knowledge on the application of scenarios to envision land use patterns and ecosystem services (ES) supply in this region is still lacking in scientific literature. In this study, we applied land use scenario modelling to provide recommendations for habitat restoration planning and associated ES supply in coastal socio-ecological systems. Specifically, four land use scenarios (Urbanization Scenario (UBS), Urban Greening Scenario (UGS), Plantation Agriculture Scenario (PLAS) and Landscape Restoration (LRS)) were developed for the coastal zone of Southwest Ghana. Their impacts on land use patterns and ES (food, fuelwood, carbon sequestration and recreation benefit) were assessed and visualized by integrating benefits transfer and experts’ knowledge into a spatially explicit modelling platform. The simulated results showed that UBS would decrease the supply of food, fuelwood, carbon sequestration and recreation benefits in the region. LRS would create negative synergies between food and carbon sequestration but this relationship reversed to positive synergies with future intensification of restoration. Our findings also showed that LRS could lead to expansion of mixed swamp forests, no change in the spatial extent of palm swamp forests and decline of mangrove swamps. On this basis, we recommend planning regulations which target swamp forests in the region for enhanced protection and restoration in order to safeguard these critical coastal habitats and avert their future degradation due to urbanization.
... Although ASGM has traditionally been associated with low-impact techniques such as gold panning, it now frequently involves more modern methods [20]. region's ecosystems, necessitating urgent environmental protection efforts [26,30]. The Ahafo Region, rich in gold deposits, has become a hub for galamsey operations, causing deforestation and habitat destruction. ...
... The removal of trees and vegetation causes the extinction of many plant and animal species, some of which are unique or endangered. As mining operations increase, these places become barren, degraded landscapes, affecting the composition and function of local ecosystems [19,26,35] and have found extensive deforestation in Ghana's Western and Ashanti regions. ...
... These studies also show how ecological disruptions have resulted in diminishing biodiversity in these areas [19,26]. ...
Small-Scale Gold Mining (ASGM), locally known as “Galamsey,” has emerged as a pervasive issue in Ghana characterized with environmental degradation, land and water resource depletion, health hazards for miners, social and economic impacts. This comprehensive review explores the ecological and health effects of galamsey operations across different regions of the country. The study employs a systematic analysis method to examine the available literature from 2000 to 2023. Various academic databases, including PubMed, Google Scholar, JSTOR relevant government publications, were searched to gather relevant information. The review reveals that galamsey has had significant ecological consequences, including deforestation, habitat destruction, water pollution, soil degradation, which have adversely affected Ghana’s natural beauty. These environmental challenges pose a threat Moreover, the study highlights the physiological health issues faced by galamsey miners, such as accidents, physical strain, mental strain, kidney problems and respiratory disorders and metabolic diseases. The presence of elevated levels of mercury, cyanide, arsenic cadmium in both the environment and the human body are directly linked to ASGM in Ghana. About seventy percent (70%) of the houses in ASGM communities relied on surface water and all of the homes utilized the fields or bush as their main toilet. Implementing remote sensing, geospatial technologies, promoting clean mining technologies, integrates environmental conservation, occupational safety and public health awareness are key technical and innovative measures to mitigate galamsey in Ghana.
... Accordingly, the study, urgently recommended for a renew synergy between governmental agencies and small-scale miners. In a related development, Owusu-Nimo et al. (2018), investigated the spatial trend of illegal SSGM operations in 221, host communities in Ghana (see Fig. 2). The study found that there are 7,470, artisanal mining sites in the Western Region of Ghana alone which are operating without certifications. ...
... In particular, the authors claimed that these miners don't use protectives wares in their operations and concluded that unauthorized mining activities significantly promote ecological destruction, and loss of human lives. A study conducted by Owusu-Nimo et al. (2018), projects Ghana as a likely water distressed country anytime soon. Carcinogenic substances and bioaccumulation products traceable to IGM-induced polluted river bodies were found to cause rampant Kidney and neurological diseases in host communities and adjoining towns. ...
... Eventually, they join the informal SSMG arena to engage in IGM (Azumah et al., 2021;Eduful et al., 2020). Dwindled output from the Cocoa (SB8) There is a decline in Cocoa production in most host communities for obvious including ageingCocoa farms ( Owusu-Nimo et al., 2018), irregular mass spray, encroachment on Cocoa farms (Teschner, 2012). Failure to afford schooling expenses (SB11) Broken home, teenage pregnancy, and single parenting wire a continuous economic distress cycle in a family line. ...
... ASGM is a generic term that includes the extraction of gold from both land and rivers, using tools such as suction dredges and riverine dredges. ASGM operations involve the use of mercury to extract gold from mineral ores, which can lead to health risks for miners and their families (Bansah et al., 2018;Owusu-Nimo et al., 2018). ...
The environmental impacts of artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) are currently a major issue globally. There is cause for concern given the rapid loss of forest resources and pollution of water bodies through contamination with heavy metals like cyanide, arsenic, and mercury. The study investigated the livelihood and environmental implications of artisanal and small-scale gold mining in Akango, a mining community in the Nzema East Municipality of Ghana. Water and soil samples were collected, and some of their associated physiochemical and heavy metal parameters were analyzed. The study used post-classification change detection to estimate the land-use/land-cover change that occurred between 2008 and 2022 and also assessed the spatiotemporal changes and transition potential modeling of the community. Field observations, interviews, and semi-structured questionnaires were employed to obtain first-hand experience regarding the study. The spatiotemporal land-use analyses found a significant increase in mining areas and subsequent settlement expansion, primarily at the expense of water bodies and vegetation. Waterbodies had a great loss, while vegetation showed little change between the study periods. For instance, the study found a significant increase in the size of the settlement and mining areas by 41.72 and 1279.77% respectively between 2008 and 2015 in the study area. However, there was a substantial decrease in the size of the waterbody by 4.58%. Accounting for the decline in the waterbody, 38.4 and 10.02% of the waterbody were converted into mining and bare areas, respectively. In terms of social impacts, ASGM had no statistically significant impacts on school dropout, prostitution, teenage pregnancy, and child labor (p-value > 0.05) but a statistically significant impact on women's abuse, drug abuse, and high rate of in-migration (p-value < 0.05). For the physicochemical properties and the presence of heavy metals in surrounding waterbodies, while the values for drinking water and borehole fell within the acceptable limits of USEPA and WHO, those for stream and river Ankobra fell above the acceptable limits. Economically, ASGM contributed to the expansion of existing businesses, inflation of prices, and loss of livelihoods for farmers. The findings of the study is expected to inform policies related to the regulation of mining activities and address the goal 6 and 15 of the Sustainable Development Goals. The study, therefore, recommends that a decentralized system of monitoring ASM should be prioritized by the government to ensure that small-scale miners strictly adhere to environmental regulations and policies.
... In Ghana, pollution of rivers by illegal artisanal small-scale gold miners ('galamsey') is widespread [8]. Policymakers and citizens have expressed concerns about the environmental implications of galamsey activities [7,9,10]. ...
... In Ghana, although galamsey activities started in the colonial era, pollution of rivers became rampant over a decade ago [80]. This is because galamsey activities are currently more sophisticated with the use of heavy equipment, like excavators and bulldozers together with hazardous chemicals and sophisticated infrastructure compared to rudimentary tools that were used formerly [8]. Other reasons have been attributed to the recent direct involvement of foreign nationals including the Chinese [81]. ...
Pollution of water resources is a widespread challenge across the globe which requires effective policy measures. However, in many instances, state institutions are weak in addressing these problems. One then wonders what alternative management regimes can be used in place of public policies. This study examined the willingness to pay (WTP) for the improvement of the Ankobra River, a mining-polluted river in the Western Region of Ghana, using the contingent valuation method. Primary data was collected from 611 respondents from 8 communities in the Prestea-Huni Valley Municipality and were analysed using probit and interval regression models. The findings suggest that respondents were concerned about the current polluted state of the Ankobra River and traditional beliefs regarding the spiritual value of the river were still very relevant to them. Consequently, respondents with the belief that the river is an abode of gods as well as natives who believe that Ankobra River is a god were more likely to pay for the improvement of its water quality. Surprisingly, respondents who believed that the river is a god had a lower WTP. Income, natives, existence value, secondary and tertiary education also had positive significant association with WTP, older respondents were less likely to pay while respondents with bigger household sizes, and the divorced had lower WTP. The estimated mean WTP for water quality improvement of the Ankobra River is GHC 51.52 ($6.62) per annum. Local community involvement in policy decision-making regarding water resources is key.
... Small-scale mining in developing countries in particular is now widespread. For instance, more than 30% of the total gold output in Ghana is derived from the activities of some one million small-scale miners, many of whom operate without any mining permits (Good Governance Africa-West Africa, 2020) while a total of 7470 individual galamsey operations were recently encountered in 312 communities (Owusu-Nimo et al., 2018). ...
... In many parts of West Africa, the rising incidences of galamsey and the adoption of unsustainable mineral exploration practices as well as inappropriate mine closure mechanisms and poor regulation have led to enhanced degrees of levels of PTE contamination and associated risks to soils and the environment (Fasinu & Orisakwe, 2013;Owusu-Nimo et al., 2018). The geoaccumulation index (I geo ), the contamination factor, the enrichment factor, and the pollution load index are popular pollution indices widely used to characterize the status of PTE in soils within and near mineral mining and other polluted areas (Darko et al., 2019;Fosu-Mensah et al., 2018;Kazapoe et al., 2022;Obiri-Nyarko et al., 2021). ...
This study examined the accumulation of potentially toxic elements (PTE) in oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) biomass, fruits, and soils. About 40 soil samples to a depth of 40 cm and 90 palm biomass samples from roots, leaves/stems, and fruits were collected from reclaimed tailings dam and control sites at two mining areas in southwestern Ghana. PTE concentrations and pollution indices were analyzed via various inferential statistics. The PTE (As, Fe, Zn, Mn, and Cu) concentrations in the palm roots were significantly higher (p < 0.001) than in the soil at Ghana Manganese Company (GMC) Ltd, Nsuta except for As which was significantly higher (p < 0.0001) in the fruits than the soil. Soil PTE concentration was however significantly higher (p < 0.0001) than that of the roots, leaves, and fruits at the Bogoso tailings dam. The contamination factors, enrichment factors, geoaccumulation indices, and pollution load index (PLI) of soils at the tailings dam and reclaimed sites were significantly higher than the control sites. The PLI of the reclaimed tailings and control sites at Bogoso were 17.98 ± 0.56 and 6.06 ± 0.58, respectively, implying the soils at Bogoso are severely polluted with As, Fe, Zn, and Mn while those of the GMC are unpolluted. Bioaccumulation factors were significantly higher in roots than in the leaves and fruits (p < 0.0001) and were greater than 2 at GMC. The translocation of Cu and As to the fruits was significantly high on both study locations with TF of As = 9 at GMC. PTE accumulation in the palm biomass reduced soil PTE concentrations, but the soils on these mined spoils were severely polluted. These high As contents, in the fruits, may contaminate the food chain and increase PTE-related health risks among human populations. Therefore, phytoremediation of mine spoils with oil palm should be done with caution. Experimental studies to examine soil amendment effects on PTE accumulation capacity or removal efficacy by the palm plants at various ages are recommended.
... In so doing, it delved into the gender division of labour in ASM (Arthur-Holmes, 2021), which helped in bringing out nuances with respect to the types of ASM activities that are gender-sensitive. Extant literature reveals spatial variations in the types and forms of ASM activities across Ghana (see Baddianaah, Baatuuwie, & Adongo, 2022a;Owusu-Nimo et al., 2018). However, these classifications fall under two broad categorisationunderground pit/ghetto mining and surface mining (Baddianaah, Baatuuwie, & Adongo, 2022a). ...
... There are several forms of surface mining being undertaken by galamsey operators in Ghana. They include dig-and-wash, dig-and-check and alluvial or placer mining (Baddianaah, Baatuuwie, & Adongo, 2022a;Owusu-Nimo et al., 2018). ...
... The mineral-bearing sand/gravel is heaped and transported to the Chang fa or grinding mill for grinding and processing to recover the gold (Aryee et al., 2003). In areas where the mineralised ore is mixed with the fine sand, largely along river beds, washing boards are sited by the riverside and the sand is immediately washed to recover the gold (Owusu-Nimo et al., 2018). All the female miners interviewed in the study were of the strong conviction that they can mine independently under the dig-and-wash galamsey provided they are granted access to mineralised concessions (golden lands). ...
The daily lives of female artisanal and small-scale miners revolve around an array
of complex and labour-driven activities. The complexities and labour demands
vary depending on the type of artisanal and small-scale mining involved, the underground pit (ghetto) or surface mining. Few studies have explored how gender
roles manifest in the two major mining types to inform policy on the creation of
a gendered mining environment for women. This paper fills the lacuna in the
literature by investigating gender roles and the consequential effects on female
artisanal miners' daily lives and practices along the underground pit and surface mining. The liberal feminist theoretical lens is employed as a framework.
Data were sourced through field observations and in-depth interviews with 13
lead miners (men) and 67 female miners in the Upper West Region of Ghana.
Findings show that sociocultural marginalisation of women is predominant in
underground pit/ghetto mining. Women are content to work in surface mining
operations and can form gangs to operate independently; nevertheless, sociocultural framings have limited women's space and access to mineralised concessions. The study argues that steps towards promoting gender equality in artisanal and small-scale mining should explore a gendered mineralised concessions distribution; thus, the distribution of mining concessions under the community mining project by the government of Ghana should be gender-sensitive.
... Therefore, a random sampling procedure could not be used to select them to participate in the study. Besides, the illegal artisanal and small-scale miners are very ellusive with regard to their modus operandi and are best described as 'hit and run' miners (Owusu-Nimo et al., 2018), making it difficult to locate them for interviews. As a consequence, the best alternative approach to reaching them was to depend on the referral system as used by previous researchers in the field (Baddianaah et al., 2022c). ...
... ASM has several positive and negative implications in local communities, but in most instances, the miners are unwilling to share knowledge on the negative aspects (Owusu-Nimo et al., 2018). This explains our decision to interview the aforesaid key informants for a nuanced perspective to validate ASM's dynamics and livelihood transformation in local communities. ...
... It emerged from our study that galamsey is associated with a host of negative consequences. Interestingly, the research participants were more concerned about the social effects as opposed to the environmental destruction reported in earlier studies (Owusu-Nimo et al., 2018;Baddianaah et al., 2022d). According to the research participants, galamsey's negative environmental effects are not felt in their communities because their activities are not destroying farmlands. ...
In recent times, what is common in the scientific literature is findings showcasing the environmental and social menaces associated with artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM)-low-tech, low capital investment, and labor-intensive mineral extraction and processing. However, a better understanding of how ASM shapes livelihood and rural economies may present nuances as to how its negative ramifications can be addressed. As a result, this paper examines how galamsey engenders livelihoods and the transformation of rural economies in Ghana. We produced a nuanced counter-debate to the widely held view that galamsey is evil and a menace to national development by sourcing data from 236 operators using a questionnaire and key informant interviews with 11 relevant stakeholders in northwestern Ghana. Findings show that galamsey is a source of employment, income, and accumulation of assets such as houses, motorbikes, cars, and filling stations, which together make the local economy thrive, thereby fostering a local economic boom. However, there is limited collaboration between regulatory agencies and local stakeholders in implementing sustainable mining policies in Ghana. To address this problem, the government should engage local community actors such as the chiefs and landlords, assembly members, and the lead miners on possible steps to streamline and effectively monitor galamsey operations as opposed to military clamp downs.
Keywords: artisanal and small-scale mining assets acquisition galamsey rural communities rural Ghana
... The Wassa Amenfi East and Prestea-Huni Valley Districts are predominantly farming and mining areas. Owusu-Nimo et al. (2018) discussed increasing mining activities within the Western Region of Ghana, which were the Prestea-Huni Valley and Wassa Amenfi East Districts. While these activities serve as significant sources of livelihood in the respective areas, Buamah et al. (2008) and Amuah et al. (2022a) have identified them as significant contributors to water pollution, particularly due to heavy metal contamination. ...
Evaluating groundwater quality is one of the most important tools for groundwater sustainability which offers empirical and decisive information for water management especially in mining areas where water pollution is of great concern. This study considers groundwater quality in two mining-dominanted districts in Ghana: Wassa Amenfi East and Prestea-Huni Valley for public, domestic, and irrigation purposes. A total of 101 groundwater samples were collected for 16 analytical assessments. The results showed that except for pH and NO3⁻ where 11% and 2% of the samples were, respectively, below and exceeded WHO guideline values, the other assessed variables—alkalinity, total dissolved solids (TDS), PO4²⁻, EC, Na⁺, HCO3⁻, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Cl⁻, K⁺, F⁻, B, SO4²⁻, and total hardness (TH) were within the WHO recommendations. The residual sodium bicarbonate (RSBC) computation showed that all the samples were not suitable for irrigation. However, 5%, 89%, 100%, and 80% of the samples based on Na%, sodium absorption ratio (SAR), permeability index (PI) and magnesium hazard (MH) outputs were excellent irrigable water sources. The factor analysis showed a dominance of pH, EC, alkalinity, and anions (HCO3⁻, Cl⁻, NO3⁻, PO4²⁻, and F⁻) and soluble cations (Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, K⁺, and Na⁺) including B. The Piper diagram presented high HCO3⁻, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Cl⁻, and Na + K loadings. The relationship between the studied elements from the covariance–variance matrix and factor analysis strongly suggests that the water sources were within similar geological formations and characteristics, pedogeological processes, and subject to similar anthropogenic activities. Generally, nearly all the groundwater sources were suitable for public, domestic, and irrigation purposes.
