Economic Boom Or Ecological Doom: Illegal Mining (Galamsey) In Ghana – OpEd

“Balancing economic growth with environmental protection is a challenge faced by nearly every nation on earth” — Laura Tuck, Vice President, Sustainable Development (World Bank)

The rise in demand and prices of gold in the last two decades triggered a wave of intense mining activities across the world. Many of these mining activities were and are still being carried out by small-scale miners including illegal artisanal miners, particularly in developing countries where regulatory capacities and institutions are weak, and this is the case of Ghana

The small-scale mining sector in Ghana is an important contributor to job creation for people in rural communities due to lack of sufficient paying alternative jobs and also serve as a big business for some people in high authorities which we least suspect to be engaging in such activity.

About 85% of the estimated one million people who are directly or indirectly employed in the artisanal mining sector are identified as illegal (Galamsey) because they operate without licenses. These artisanal miners operate near major rivers and streams because of their need for water in their operations and at times too in the forest. These important water bodies serve as sources of potable water for community members and animals, whereas the forest provides vital ecological services such as habitat for biotic organisms and as carbon sinks, aiding in the absorption significant portions of CO₂ emissions from anthropogenic activities. 

The predominant form of mineral extraction by the illegal miners is strip mining, which alters the landscape and poses potential dangers and losses to workers and indigenous peoples, The use of heavy equipment, such as excavators and bulldozers, have destroyed forests, river bodies and farmlands. Major rivers like the Pra, Ankobra, Oti, Offin and Birim have all been contaminated, but due to the prospect from this venture it continues to attract a lot of people who are economically sound and have influence in the country, among these include key state officials, high ranking politicians and elite Ghanaians with high standing in the country and even foreigners. Due to the calibre of people involved in this illicit venture, illegal mining in Ghana is now a national canker, not only is the nation loosing huge sums of money through tax evasion since the operations are not regulated, but the consequences on the environment leave much to be desired.

The government’s fightback started over three decades ago in 1989 with the Small-scale Gold Mining Act, which aimed to legalise artisanal mining and prevent illegal activities. Since then, successive governments have tried unsuccessfully to combat the problem, the state has pursued high-cost interventions such as deploying soldiers in various missions to arrest illegal miners, including Operation Halt, Operation Vanguard, Operation Flush Out and Galamstop. In some instances, mining equipment like excavators were seized and burned, but illegal mining is still rampant in the country

Pollution of water bodies and increasing rates of chronic health conditions is now the order of the day. The Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) has given a caution of severe water scarcity if galamsey is not curtailed. It is now recording water turbidity levels of 14 000 NTU (nephelometric turbidity units), far above the 2 000 NTU threshold required for adequate treatment as a result of the practices of the illegal miners. Experts say the country could be importing water by 2030. Research also links water pollution from galamsey to chronic diseases such as kidney failure, birth defects and cancer, as seen in many of Ghana’s mining communities. There is strong evidence of the contamination of mercury and arsenic in biotic and abiotic samples in proximity to mining locations in Ghana. The use of toxic chemicals in illegal mining often leaves chemical residues in soils and water bodies. When ingested through agricultural food products and water, these toxic substances pose a severe hazard to human health. The presence of toxic chemicals affects human life and the entire biodiversity. 

The presence of illegal mining (Galamsey) is an indication of lack of awareness of the health risk associated with it, greed and weakened institutional frameworks in Ghana. However, the government of Ghana can play a very crucial role which can see to the end of this illicit activity, the government needs to prioritize strengthening regulatory institutions, enhancing enforcement capacities, and promoting transparency and accountability within the mining sector, ensuring the strict enforcement of penalties for non-compliance.

Galamsey threatens the achievement of sustainable development goals 1, 2, 3, 6 and 13 which reflect on poverty, hunger, health and well-being, clean water and sanitation, and climate change respectively and this illicit practice needs to be stopped completely.

About the authors:

• Eng. Agloh-Avornorkadzi Michael (GHIE-PE) MSc candidate in Climate Project Management, RUDN University, Moscow-Russia
• Dr Nyasha John Kavhiza (PhD) is an environmental scientist and consultant with extensive understanding of the African region.