KEY POINTS
- Unlicensed gold mining in Ghana, often referred to as wildcat or “galamsey” mining, has led to severe mercury poisoning, impacting human health and the environment.
- The illegal gold mining sector has boomed, contributing significantly to Ghana’s gold production but also costing the government revenue in lost taxes and licensing fees.
- Corruption at various levels of government has exacerbated the illegal mining crisis, with officials often turning a blind eye to or profiting from galamsey activities.
Ghana, sometimes called the “Gold Coast,” has been mining gold for many years. The gold resources have remained a source of revenue and employment in the country and has boosted revenue in the country. But in the past decade or so, illicit or ‘’galamsey’’ gold mining has expanded rapidly. Instead of a great asset to the nation, they have become a means of poisoning, polluting, and corrupting. As reported by Reuters, the impacts of this uncontrolled mining not only lead to environmental degradation but also cost people living near the mining activities their lives.
The menace of unregulated gold mining
The alarming rise of illegal gold mining in Ghana is fueled by several factors: poverty, unemployment and selfishness. Many individuals visit these unauthorised mining sites in the hope of making money fast, but what is the price for this? The miners who lack the skills and equipment mine the gold employing techniques that are hazardous to their lives and the environment. Mercury is among the chemicals used in processing gold and it seeps into the rivers and farmlands polluting the people and animals. This practice has destroyed communities, and they cannot cultivate food or get access to clean water.
Corruption: the root of the problem
One of the leading causes of the sustained increase in the incidence of illicit mining in Ghana is corruption. Some of the officials who should protect the natural resources of Ghana are members of the law enforcement agencies and local authorities, and these are bought over to look the other way while the galamsey operators go about their business. In some of these areas, the same officials are involved in the business of Illegal mining. This corruption defeats any attempt by the government to control mining activities or to safeguard the environment.
The Ghanaian government has in the past tried to address the menace of illegal mining through various operations but they have failed. However, most of the galamsey operations still exist in the country, operating secretly, and with the help of some corrupt officials who are indifferent to the fate of their own country.
The environmental and human toll
The impacts of the wildcat gold mining are as follows. Sources of drinking water and irrigation water are today contaminated rivers filled with mercury and cyanide. The soil loses its nutrients due to reckless and uncontrolled mining activities hence widespread deforestation and soil erosion. Fauna that used to inhabit these areas is dying out, it cannot live in an environment that has been rendered toxic.
The effect is even worse for the people living in mining communities. Many of these communities were once fully sustainable and could harvest food and drink from the rivers. They suffer from diseases as the water, food, and even air they breathe contains toxic chemicals. Children have developmental problems and adults have chronic diseases such as respiratory and neurological diseases associated with mercury and other pollutants. This was once a very healthy way of living and now it has become a fight for existence.
The economic impact
Illegal gold mining has many more economic consequences than the environmental and health effects described above. Though the practice of galamsey may yield some revenues to the participants in the short run, the practice is detrimental to the sustainable development of the mining industry in Ghana. Legal mining companies with large-scale operations who also have respect for the environment, government laws and regulation, and make their contribution to the country’s economy in terms of tax and job creation for the citizens; have no match to the Illegal miners. Consequently, Ghana may lose a huge amount of foreign investment and revenue.
What needs to be done
To address this crisis, Ghana has to act and act big. Transparency and accountability should be the major focuses of the government, making sure officials at all levels get to answer for their deeds. Combating corruption is central to any real progress being made in the fight against the practice of illegal mining. In addition, the government must come up with sources of income and learning for those who are involved in the illicit business of mining. Unless the government goes to the root of poverty and unemployment in the country, they cannot make any effort to reduce the number of people who engage in the galamsey business.
Environmental restoration also should be the focus. The government should spend the money on cleaning up the affected areas and restoring the forest cover on the affected areas, providing clean water and health facilities to the affected people. Last of all, the people should be sensitized through information sharing on the social costs of illegal mining.
