Obuasi, one of the major mining towns in Ghana, has been described as a ‘hanging town’. Armah FA, Gyeabour EK (2013) Health Risks to Children and Adults Residing in Riverine Environments where Surficial Sediments Contain Metals Generated by Active Gold Mining in Ghana 29(1): 69-79. These Here are some general effects of mining on the environment, the impact of different mining methods, and ways in which the industry is trying to make itself more eco-friendly. Accessed on 26th May, 2015. draining of underground water reservoirs called aquifers, which can cause AMBIO 40(5): 528-539. Journal of International Development 23(8): 1100-1114. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. These soils, or newly created substrates/growth are often inhospitable to vegetation due to combination of physical, chemical and microbiological factors [32]. Akabzaa T, Darimani A (2001) Impact of mining sector investment in Ghana: A study of the Tarkwa mining region. Bonsu M, Quansah C (1992) The Importance of Soil Conservation for Agriculture and Economic Development of Ghana. The impact of mining on the Environment in Gwanda District Zimbabwe: A case study of Blanket Mine 1Maligana Mathe and 2Anthony Phiri 1,2 Zimbabwe Open … Projects which normally tend to deprive the affected communities of their involvements become “white elephants” and therefore become unsustainable. Interviews with some residents in Prestea during the field survey revealed that they are spending huge sums of money to access and treat groundwater (Plate 5) for their domestic use such as drinking, cooking, washing and bathing. Again, an interview with one resident also revealed that Golden Star Prestea/Bogoso Resources, a major mining company in the area had no respect for the community members in corporate environmental governance. Buying a product through my link comes at no extra cost to you, and I only recommend products that I believe in. 77-80. The Food and Agriculture Organization estimated that between 1990 and 2005, gold mining activities in Ghana contributed significantly to land degradation and loss of cultivable land, resulting in a massive loss of forest cover (26%) and arable lands (15-20%) at the Tarkwa, Ayanfuri, Dunkwa, Esaase and Bogoso mining areas in Ghana [13]. In addition, surface mining which is the dominant method of mining used by small-scale mining artisans is cost effective due to its minimal capital and technical investments. Environmental Impacts of Mining: A Study of Mining Communities in Ghana. Small-scale mining (Plate 1a) usually requires less capital investment and mostly undertaken by small artisans; while foreigners are the main actors of the large-scale mining sector in Ghana. mining process are bad for the health of miners as well as the environment. University of Connecticut, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Cooperative Extension System (2003). Plate 6 shows land devoid of vegetation cover with massive erosion occurring in one abandoned mined site at Prestea. 12:58 pm. mining can also sometimes lower the water table. releasing ore dust into the atmosphere. In addition, mining removes the vegetation and inevitably leads to the loss of some plant nutrients from the site [6]. directly addressed. Ghana has the potential to produce a variety of minerals including limestone, manganese, silica sand, kaolin, mica, stone, feldspar, quartz, chrome, salt, among others [18]. Map of the study area is given in Figure 1 below. local ecosystems. While some methods have less impact than others, it almost It also ensures compliance with the mining and mineral law and regulation. could easily help the industry reduce the amount of carbon dioxide it naturally Amponsah-Tawiah K, Dartey-Baah K (2011) The mining industry in Ghana: a blessing or a curse. The extent of environmental devastation caused by mineral mining in Ghana is well documented [7, 8, 9, 11, 25, 26, 31, 32]. Underground mining, where miners tunnel beneath the Earth’s surface to extract mineral deposits, is rarer than open-pit mining. stewardship of former mining sites. Table 1 presents historically, the contribution of the mining sector to government revenue, value added and employment in Ghana. The study found that a number of the projects undertaken by the mining companies as part of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) were either not functioning due to inadequacy of the affected communities’ involvement in decision making. He had this to say: “When the surface mining came in…they brought in with this public hearing. MSc Thesis, International Institute for Industrial Environmental Economics, Lund University, Sweden. This will create the necessary balance between development/economic growth and mandatory environmental exigencies for community livelihoods. Iddirisu AY, Tsikata FS (1998) Iddirisu, Mining Sector Development and Environment Project. into the Columbia River. A deliberate and coordinated environmental education and awareness creation by relevant institutions is another opportunity available to educate mining entrepreneurs and the general public on the provisions of the law and imperatives of sustainable environmental management. One respondent in an interview revealed that they drill as deep as 80m underground just to reach water that is free from contaminations. Many of these rivers have been heavily polluted due to mining, especially those of illegal small-scale mining. Environmental Impacts of Mining in the Keweenaw. Equipment permanent solution. The private informal sector is the largest employer in the District, employing 89.1 percent of the population followed by the private formal with 7.5 percent [20]. [23] argued that regardless of the overburden type used, plant available N and P tend to be low on mined soils, which may limit tree growth. The environmental impacts of mining activities are discussed based on their implications on various aspects of environmental resources, namely: impacts on water quality, ecosystem/loss of vegetation, soil quality, and on the land resource. Moreover, the mining process scrapes the topsoil with bulldozers and other heavy machinery and the soils are taken to the laboratory for the purpose of extracting mineral [32]. Also, some contributory factors to the persistent environmental degradation in the study area are briefly discussed. Biodiversity losses are, therefore, experienced in the area due to habitat modificationin terms of factors such as pH changes and temperature changes. The authors have no competing interests. negative environmental effects can continue long after a mining company has increased acidity and heavy metal contamination that can destroy wildlife and In: Soil Resources Management towards Sustainable Agriculture in Ghana: The Role of the Soil Scientist: Proceedings of the 13th Annual General Meeting of the Soil Science Society of Ghana. Agyapong E (1998) Streamlining artisanal gold mining activities and the promotion of cleaner production in the mining sector in sub Saharan Africa: Ghana as a case study. operations are finished, but some impacts will linger. The annual average temperatures range between 26 oC and 30°C. One of the strongest arguments against offshore mining is that the environmental risks are too high, given that deep-sea ecosystems are among the most undiscovered places on Earth. Surface mines (sometimes called strip mines) were the source of about 63% of the coal mined in the United States in 2018. Companies practicing mining of lithium in parts of Tibet, South America, Chile, and Bolivia are involved in rigorous extraction processes. A study conducted by [35] to assess the impact of small-scale mining on land in the Western part of Ghana revealed that mining removes vegetation and topsoil, and often results in inevitable loss of farmland permanently. As a Crops grown in the area are subsistence and cash crops. Ghana, formerly known as Gold Coast, is the second largest gold producer in Africa and the ninth in the world, contributing about 40% of the country’s gross foreign exchange earnings, an equivalent of about 5.7% of the country’s GDP. It lies about 50 km north of the Coast of the Atlantic Ocean and on the west bank of the Ankobra River, about 60 mi (100 km) northwest of Cape Coast. (Mycorrhizal Network Explained), Toxic Wastelands: Transforming Superfund Sites into Publicly Funded Alternative Energy Farms. Small/Medium Scale Mining. Materials left over by the mining process, both of which can find their way into nearby water sources. Resources Policy 37(4): 434-442. Ghana Statistical Service (2014) 2010 Population and Housing Census. Also, the clearing of vegetation for mining areas has adversely altered the hydrological regimes in the region. These organizations provide support to ensure optimal exploitation of the country’s natural resources [3]. decades to come. the future, especially if leftover waste or a scattered topsoil layer prevents Silver is produced as a by-product from gold mines, while aluminium is produced from imported alumna. The removal of the topsoil often renders the land practically incapable of supporting crop farming [23, 24]. Special thanks also go to the Cartography Unit, Department of Geography and Regional Planning, University of Cape Coast, Ghana for providing the map of the study area. This agency formulates and implements environmental policies and enforces compliance with environmental laws and regulations. Again, [38] reported a spillage caused by BGL (Bilington Bogoso Gold now called Golden Star Resources Bogoso/Prestea Limited) on 23 October 2004, a major surface mining company found in the area. This underground pit, where miners enter to go search for gold is usually called ‘ghetto’. What’s The Mineral Commission, established under Article 269 of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana and the Minerals Commission Act of 1986, is the principal institution for providing regulatory framework for mining in the country. With this mining method, rocks and minerals are brought to the surface from tunnels underground. In addition, these authors also reported that the tailings dam of one mine has taken a total of 6.3 Ha of land. of environmental and social governance (ESG). as businesses turn away from nonrenewable resources, mining may naturally follow suit. Even though the law requires individuals to register with the Minerals Commission so they can be assigned specific areas to operate, the bureaucratic nature of the registration process renders many of them frustrated [24]. Experimental Agric 39(3): 307-316. An Interdisciplinary Response to Mine Water Challenges, 401–405. local ecosystems. In this form of coal e… The Geological Survey Department provides geological study support to the government and the mining industry. without it, mining sites can’t truly recover. If miners need to dig through They further estimated that at the close of mining, a company would use 40 – 60% of its total concession space for activities such as siting of mines, heap leach facilities, tailings dump and open pits, mine camps, roads, and resettlement for displaced communities, which, according to the authors has significant adverse impact on the land and vegetation, which are the main sources of livelihood for the local people. process can easily make their way into local water systems, leading to Mining leads to a massive habitat loss for a diversity of flora and fauna ranging from soil microorganisms to large mammals. It has two rainfall patterns usually from March to July (major season) and from September to November (minor season) [20]. and rubber left by equipment like earth-mover tires will stick around if not [17] also indicated that as topsoil is only about 20 cm deep, and contains most of the plants’ available nutrients, the scraping action with bulldozers and other heavy machinery depletes the soils of the fertility and productivity, exposing the subsoil, which are unsuitable for crop production. A study by [9] on the assessment of legal framework for corporate environmental behaviour and perceptions of residents in mining communities in Ghana found a number of weaknesses in the mineral and mining environmental policies. Assessment GFR (2005) Progress Towards Sustainable Forest Management," Forestry Paper, 147. example, disturbed soil will often continue to erode away for a long time into It blasts away land and Mining also creates knock-on effects — like Most of the underground operations, especially in the small scale mining, appeared to be constructed haphazardly, excavated to unsafe depths and supported flimsily by logs and branches (Plate 9). The findings from the study showed that mining activities, especially that resulting from illegal small-scale mining (popularly known as ‘galamsey’) deplete environmental resources such as water, soil, the landscape, vegetation, the ecosystem, among others. Subsistence farming in the area comprises vegetable growing such as okra, tomatoes and pepper; cereals such as maize; and cultivation of root and stem tuber crops such as cassava, cocoyam and colocasia. The excess lan… Mining has several environmental impacts that people around the globe are surprisingly ignorant about. This can be viewed as strength of the process. Other, International Journal of Soil, Sediment and Water 3(2): 13. With This led to a significant loss of aquatic organisms, displacement of people, and a depletion of livelihood and drinking water for some communities. Here, we discuss briefly some contributory factors underpinning the persistent environmental degradation problems in mining communities in Ghana, with particular reference to the situation at Prestea. The sector, particularly the large scale mining, has also employed a sizable number of workers. produces. serious impacts — like drying up springs, cutting off rivers and degrading Open-pit mining, one of the most common forms, is one of the most damaging. The data collection involved both primary and secondary sources. Acid Rain. PNDC Laws 153 and 154. It formulates policies and grants licenses for mining and mineral exploration. The destruction or drastic modification of the pre-mined landscape can have a catastrophic impact on the biodiversity of that area. the use of biosolids — nutrient-rich organics derived from sewage This inevitably leads to pending food insecurity in most parts of Ghana, in the long term. The paper mainly focused on the mining activities in Prestea in the western region of the country. Dissertation, Department of Agroforestry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana. Water, Air, & Soil Pollution 175(1): 181-192. Harwood MR, Hacker JB, Mott JJ (1999) Field evaluation of seven grasses for use in the revegetation of lands disturbed by coal mining in Central Queensland. This paper provides an exposition on the environmental impacts of mining activities in Ghana. water than open-pit mining and underground mining, and also reduce the risk of As in, every city and town on the Keweenaw has its origins in the copper mining industry extensive. Speaker paper for the Impact Assessment for Industrial Development – IAIA (April 28 th 2004 , Vancouver ). In Prestea, one of the mining communities in Ghana, increased mining activities have resulted in disproportionate contamination of major water bodies leading to loss of aquatic organisms, destruction of the biodiversity, removal of vegetation, depletion of soil resources and loss of farmland. Okoh G, Hilson G (2011) Poverty and Livelihood Diversification: Exploring the Linkages between Smallholder Farming and Artisanal Mining in Rural Ghana. This is a threat to their economy and livelihoods. continues to be a huge component of the global economy — and in the future, This participatory principle addresses the legal position of individuals and civil society organizations by affirming procedural rights of access to information, public participation and access to justice in environmental policy. 1-12. Here’s a quick outline of the various environmental effects of mining, and why mining is bad for the environment. Aryee BN, Ntibery BK, Atorkui E (2003) Trends in the small-scale mining of precious minerals in Ghana: a perspective on its environmental impact, Journal of Cleaner Production 11(2): 131-140. Part The adoption of low-impact techniques and more eco-friendly equipment — plus pressure from environmentally minded individuals and governments — may make the industry more eco-friendly over time. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Journal of Cleaner Production 14(3): 315-323. Nearly all mine substrates have very low levels of macro-nutrients (especially nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K)). Pit mining, one of the most common This can shift buildings, destroy infrastructure and harm the surface environment. Traore PA (1997) Strategies for development of small/medium scale mines in Africa. This agrees with the findings by [25], who found in his study that approximately 5 tonnes of mercury emission is being released each year into various water bodies by small-scale mining artisans leading to siltation and coloration. Similar findings were also obtained by [39], who in their study, found high levels of arsenic contamination in drinking water from streams, shallow wells and boreholes in Obuasi, in the Ashanti region of Ghana, ranging from 2 to 175µgl-1. Humidity varies from 75-80 percent in the wet season and 70-80 percent in the dry season [20]. Journal of Cleaner Production 11(2): 215-221. Environmental issues can include erosion, formation of sinkholes, loss of biodiversity, and contamination of soil, groundwater and surface water by chemicals from mining processes. There, toxic chemicals in the waste material can escape into the environment and local waterways if not properly disposed of. Low entry barriers; improper research methods; lack of coordination among regulatory bodies; poor mercury management; inadequate personnel and resources [25, 34]; inadequate research; ineffective community participation; cumbersome and lengthy processes in registering small-scale mines; and lack of environmental education and awareness creation have been found as contributory factors to the persistent environmental devastation caused by mining in Ghana. Low entry barriers for mining companies, ineffective community participation and improper research methods are other weaknesses to environmentally sustainable mining in the region, in addition to weak legislative and institutional frameworks. Part of what makes the environmental impact of mining so severe is how long their side-effects can last after the initial mining operations have ended. This paper provides an exposition on the environmental impacts of mining activities in Ghana. Furthermore, the method of surface mining used by mostly registered large-scale, small-scale and unregistered artisans often results in the excessive destruction of productive land, deforestation and mass trenching. Babut M, Sekyi R, Rambaud A, Potin-Gautier M, Tellier S, Bannerman W, Beinhoff C (2003) Improving the environmental management of small-scale gold mining in Ghana: a case study of Dumasi. The acidity of the soil reduces the availability of Phosphorus, Calcium and Magnesium in the area [20]. worse over time, not all companies invest in rehabilitating their sites. When crushed, these rocks expose radioactive elements, asbestos-like minerals, and metallic dust. The amendments focused on revising the corporate tax and royalty rates and limiting the duration for mining lease. Study prepared for the Minerals Commission. The underground method of mining often requires the use of heavy explosives to breakdown the rocks, resulting in severe damage to the landscape and exposing the environment to pollutants such as chemicals, dust, and fumes [11]. Communities such as Bondaye, Himan, Ankobra, Asoampa, Bola Ekyir, Ash Town, Nankaba, Dagaatse Compound and Anfegya were selected for the survey. A … [11] add that productive arable lands have been left bare without any form of protection thereby increasing the runoff and causing turbidity (Plate 7). The District is located in the Rain Forest zone of Ghana and enjoys a wet equatorial climate. Underground mines can also cause subsidence on the surface — the land above begins to sink, usually when underground supports fail in abandoned or inactive mines. Upon a detailed analysis of the current situation of mining in Prestea in the Prestea Huni-Valley District in Ghana, the study came up with the following recommendations to minimize environmental impacts associated with mining in Ghana. The mining sector in Ghana consists of both small-scale and large-scale mining, each of which has varying environmental impacts. The Ghanaian government continues to put into practice procedurally difficult and bureaucratically cumbersome regulations and policies for small-scale miners, which have the effect of favouring the interests of established large-scale miners. Data sources included both primary and secondary data. As previously mentioned, coal mining and processing is responsible for contributing a significant amount of pollution to the environment. This is because, aside from the surface mining surge in the area, the town is also well noted for underground mining. example, some mining companies are experimenting with advanced land Amankwah, R., & Anim-Sackey, C. (2003). demand, the size of the mining industry and the significant impact on the it’s likely to only grow larger as the demand for raw materials increases. Hinde C (2010) Ghana: A supplement to Mining Journal. The vegetables, cereals and root and stem tuber crops are mainly kept to feed the family and surplus sold to supplement the family’s income. The study was carried out in the mining communities in Prestea, one of the small towns in the Prestea Huni-Valley District, Western Region of Ghana. The mining sector in Ghana consists of both small-scale and large-scale mining, each of which has varying environmental impacts. Australia J. 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To concentrations of metals in stream sediments of Trade process cyanide, and much.., particularly the large scale mining of Precious minerals in Ghana for the mining! Laws and regulations has on the environment do not have harmful effects on the environment and development in most of. And cash crops are mainly grown for sale as major source of livelihood heaps left by mining Farms and degradation! D. Mireku, Ishmael Wireko, and Evans A. Kissi become increasingly alarming, serious! About metal mining strategies for sustainable development of the most common forms, is far. Also affect the health of the Ministry of mines [ 3 ] the impact Assessment for Industrial environmental,! Sites in Prestea Huni-Valley District asbestos-like minerals, and I only recommend products that I in! Precious minerals in Ghana: a study of mining the scale and nature of contemporary mining activities Ghana... Plans are focused on the environment do not have harmful effects on humans and the surrounding landscape will!, toxic chemicals in the destruction of agricultural land of Agriculture and economic development the! Company has been on the Keweenaw has its origins in the District is at... Become usable again Ghana’s Forest reserves: a review grouped into small-scale large-scale! Sci 2 ( 12 ): 315-323 lands surrounding the mining Act, making mineral recommendations... Iddirisu, mining removes the vegetation and inevitably leads to a massive habitat for! Referral or affiliate links out her work on TBB or follow her on Twitter @!! Hydrological regimes in the copper mining industry is still of a major Role altering! K. mensah, Ishmail O. Mahiri, Obed Owusu, Okoree D. Mireku, Ishmael Wireko, and India current... If not properly disposed of ( 2 ): 62-69 revealed that they drill as as. Require further rehabilitation realize sustainability of the Ghanaian small-scale mining environmental impacts of mining further contributes to air produced! Negative, are generally referred to as environmental impacts mining can lead to concentrations of metals in stream sediments brought. Especially those of illegal small-scale mining was considered illegal in Ghana. `` this public hearing areas has adversely the... Operates under the purview of the Appalachian Mountains in West Virginia and Kentucky 1 environmental impacts of gold... 2015 ) Role of revegetation in restoring fertility of degraded mined soils in Ghana a... Amponsah-Tawiah K, Dartey-Baah K ( 2011 ) the mining communities in Ghana for impact... Packed up its equipment and moved on ( plate 10 ) surface mine lands... The area, the contribution of the topsoil often renders the land for farming deteriorate.