According to [29], the exploitation of mineral resources often leads to extensive soil degradation through the destruction of vegetation and alteration of microbial communities, resulting in low soil fertility and productivity. always has a serious and lasting environmental impact. Despite this development, only a few small-scale mining artisans are registered [3]. Similar research findings by [9] found that community members in this area have not participated in mineral resource governance, which situation, they added could potentially stimulate conflict between communities and civil society on one hand, and the corporations and government on the other hand. It’s often not suitable for plant or animal life. This can lead to greater habitat loss beyond the immediate location. (Mycorrhizal Network Explained), Toxic Wastelands: Transforming Superfund Sites into Publicly Funded Alternative Energy Farms. Moreover, there are several chemicals that blend with the surface water during this process. As such, consideration for future generations with respect to adhering to strict environmental regulations is secondary to them. Armah FA, Obiri S, Yawson DO, Afrifa KA, Yengoh GT, Olsson JA (2011) Assessment of legal framework for corporate environmental behaviour and perceptions of residents in mining communities in Ghana. Since the mining industry is still expanding, comprehensive information on the effects of mining activities on the environment is needed. Biodiversity losses are, therefore, experienced in the area due to habitat modificationin terms of factors such as pH changes and temperature changes. The largest surface mines in the United States are in Wyoming's Powder River Basin, where coal deposits are close to the surface and are up to 70 feet thick. The secondary data used in this study included a critical review of literature on environmental impacts of mining in Ghana, and a review of relevant laws and regulations currently in force. Ore There is need to create environmental awareness campaigns and/or education in various mining communities as a means of ensuring sound and sustainable use of the environment in the face of on-going mining activities. In addition, these authors also reported that the tailings dam of one mine has taken a total of 6.3 Ha of land. This will create the necessary balance between development/economic growth and mandatory environmental exigencies for community livelihoods. These also included international treaties and other documents or publications relating to standard international best practices of environmental protection. devastating — causing water acidification, soil erosion and the degradation of could easily help the industry reduce the amount of carbon dioxide it naturally waterways, meaning the site will likely require further rehabilitation. Machines The annual average temperatures range between 26 oC and 30°C. Even though there has been poor management of mercury in the process of extraction, but extensive use of the chemical in mining is necessary since it is added to the refined concentrate to form a gold amalgam, which is then heated to separate the gold. 1-24. stopped operations, packed up its equipment and moved on. mining can also sometimes lower the water table. This book is timely and addresses these concerns in a systematic manner. Furthermore, abandoned mining pits by both large and small-scale miners without proper reclamation also lead to further degradation of the landscape [11, 25]. However, small-scale mining activities are statutorily restricted to only Ghanaians. Furthermore, there is vast opportunity to reclaim and rehabilitate abandoned mining pits by both large and small-scale miners in order to curb further degradation of the landscape and finally revert these lands to further productive use. 1-3. Its share of the nation’s diamond output has been dwindling, currently accounting for less than half of the total annual output [3]. Bloch R, Owusu G (2012) Linkages in Ghana's gold mining industry: Challenging the enclave thesis. Study prepared for the Minerals Commission. water pollution, air pollution and vegetation loss as a result of soil [11] add that productive arable lands have been left bare without any form of protection thereby increasing the runoff and causing turbidity (Plate 7). Area 38(2): 175-185. 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. Ntibrey BK (2001) Small scale mining of precious minerals in Ghana - a strategy to improve environmental performance (Doctoral dissertation). Prestea is located at 5.43274 latitude and 2.14284 longitudes at an elevation/altitude of meters. He further added that they incur a cost of as much as 12,000 Ghana Cedis (equivalent of 3,500 USD) in drilling, laying pipes to tap the groundwater as well as putting up the POLYTANK for water storage and supply. serious impacts — like drying up springs, cutting off rivers and degrading This in turn leads to soil erosion and destruction of agricultural land. Ore dust and gases released by the 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. Another study by [15] in the Dumasi Township in the western region of Ghana also confirmed high mercury contamination with large concentrations in groundwater, river sediments and fish. This inevitably leads to pending food insecurity in most parts of Ghana, in the long term. As part of the Economic Recovery Programme (ERP), however, the government attempted to modernize the sector and formalize it through the enactment of the Small Scale Gold Mining Law (PNDC Law 218). Check out her work on TBB or follow her on Twitter @jenna_tsui! eruption. Consequently, new minerals and mining laws were enacted and the Ghana Environmental Protection Agency and Minerals Commission were instituted to provide guidelines and regulatory framework for this sector. Ghana Consolidated Diamonds Limited (GCD) undertakes large-scale diamond mining. The major potential environmental impacts associated with mining and associated mineral processing operations are related to erosion-prone landscapes, soil and water quality, and air quality. Plate 6 shows land devoid of vegetation cover with massive erosion occurring in one abandoned mined site at Prestea. Environmental impacts of mining and mineral processing are serious issues facing the world. Temperatures are high all year round with significant daily and seasonal variations. Even in sites that are Smedley PL, Edmunds WM, Pelig-Ba KB (1996) Mobility of arsenic in groundwater in the Obuasi gold-mining area of Ghana: some implications for human health. Such participation should move beyond traditional methods of public consultations by creating opportunities for open exchange of ideas, transparency, mutual learning, and informed and representative decision-making processes [14]. 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. 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. These soils, or newly created substrates/growth are often inhospitable to vegetation due to combination of physical, chemical and microbiological factors [32]. This poisoned soil is why nothing often grows near mines. Mined pits left unfilled renders land unsuitable for any other purpose and also become threats to both human and animal health, as they store water which provides breeding grounds for malaria-infected mosquitoes. example, disturbed soil will often continue to erode away for a long time into Most recently and most publicly with the incredible human tragedy caused from the Brumadinho dam failure in Brazil. In this extraction process, seams of coal are removed from the mountainside by using explosives to remove the top of the mountain, making the coal below easier to access. Environmental Practice 5(02): 154-165. Impacts of strip mining: Strip mining destroys landscapes, forests and wildlife habitats at the site of the mine when trees, plants, and topsoil are cleared from the mining area. Gold, however, is by far the most important mineral currently being exploited in Ghana. Recently, however, the process has taken as long as two years [9]. Mensah, Albert K., et al. Mining A random sampling technique was adopted for the selection of the communities and/or respondents for the interviews. continues to be a huge component of the global economy — and in the future, Operations and waste products associated with metal extraction and processing are the principal causes of environmental concerns about metal mining. University of Connecticut, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Cooperative Extension System (2003). Mountaintop removal and valley fill mining has affected large areas of the Appalachian Mountains in West Virginia and Kentucky. Data sources included both primary and secondary data. University of Science and Technology, School of Mines, Tarkwa, Ghana. Mensah, Albert K., Ishmail O. Mahiri, Obed Owusu, Okoree D. Mireku, Ishmael Wireko, and Evans A. Kissi. Mining operations describe either mines or any of various work functions that are performed in mines, from exploration to waste disposal. Also, the removal of the topsoil which destroys important soil organisms and disrupts stable soil aggregates and organic matter have been other significant threats to the productive use of the land. upgrades could also reduce the impact mining has on the environment. This paper provides an exposition on the environmental impacts of mining activities in Ghana. produces. created as a result of diesel-burning engines. Impacts can result in erosion, loss of biodiversity, or the contamination of soil, groundwater, and surface water by the chemicals emitted from mining processes. Traore PA (1997) Strategies for development of small/medium scale mines in Africa. Fortunately, there is some hope that mining will become more sustainable in the future. Copper mining was extensive in the Keweenaw. Singh N, Koku JE, Balfors B (2007) Resolving water conflicts in mining areas of Ghana through public participation a communication perspective. These plans look to not only rehabilitate process, both of which can find their way into nearby water sources. may move in the direction of sustainability — especially as pressure from Journal of Cleaner Production 14(3): 315-323. of the mining activities because most EIA efforts are concentrated on the mining phase and do not address impacts resulting from the exploration, prospecting, and pre-feasibility phases. Surface mining which is the dominant method has rendered vast lands surrounding the mining communities bare. Environmental impacts of mining can occur at local, regional, and global scales through direct and indirect mining practices. Amponsah-Tawiah K, Dartey-Baah K (2011) The mining industry in Ghana: a blessing or a curse. This section presents the results of the study and their discussions, with a view to drawing logical conclusions from the findings. The results of this study will therefore raise concern of the current environmental degradation situation at Prestea and prompt and inform policy makers in finding solutions to the current environmental problems in the area. 2. Format), Citation-(BibTeX Another similar study by [12] found lower and reduced content of soil nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) when compared to the natural forest, due to the same reason of ecosystem disruption, removal of vegetation and loss of litter layer during mineral mining. Humidity varies from 75-80 percent in the wet season and 70-80 percent in the dry season [20]. The removal of the topsoil often renders the land practically incapable of supporting crop farming [23, 24]. Fortunately, the environmental impact of that process can be somewhat balanced out by post-mining rehabilitation, efficient recycling, and generally reducing our consumption. These changes may be positive or negative, are generally referred to as environmental impacts. Social On the basis of the above, the paper recommended that there should be effective community participation in environmental decision making to ensure sustainable mining activities; easing of the registration process for small-scale mines; addressing the various weaknesses in the policies and their enforcement in the mining sector; establishment of environmental oversight groups in mining communities; and create environmental awareness campaigns and/or education in mining communities. AMBIO 40(5): 528-539. 77-80. even low-impact mining techniques like in-situ mining aren’t consequence-free. -Mined using strip mining -soil is sent to factories where they take out the ore.-Ti found in rutile and ilmenite-extracted using electrolytic deoxidation process-heated to 1,652°F (900°C) and the subsequent chemical reaction results in the creation of impure titanium tetrachloride (TiCl4) [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. The company just destroyed the farms and the water bodies around here. Mining has several environmental impacts that people around the globe are surprisingly ignorant about. weeks. result, many are left alone to pollute the nearby environment for years or even Bonsu M, Quansah C (1992) The Importance of Soil Conservation for Agriculture and Economic Development of Ghana. Silver is produced as a by-product from gold mines, while aluminium is produced from imported alumna. 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. Given an estimated per acre yield of cassava of 108,000 bags in a year, this means the tailings dam has denied the farmer a minimum of 275,351 bags of cassava per annum. more, even though rehabilitation can prevent the effects of mining from getting Despite all these policies and institutions, environmental degradation in most of mining communities in Ghana is still of a major threat and concern. Such practices had also played a major role in altering the local hydrological patterns in Prestea. Amegbey N (2001) Lecture notes on Environmental Engineering in Mining. away of the topsoil layer of time. The acids can also In addition, miners typically abandon pits and trenches without properly reclaiming spoils. The 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. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. When mining, extensive areas of land and vegetation are cleared. 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]. The Process: Bauxite to Alumina to Aluminum. 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. In addition, the search for new mining sites is taking over the available land and thus reducing the size of suitable and usable land in the area. Major socio-economic or livelihood activities in the area include farming, petty trading, teaching and gold mining (large scale and small scale). 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. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environments 32(1): 89-105. Aryee BN (2001) Ghana's mining sector: its contribution to the national economy. Poultry (chicken - 66.4%) is the dominant animal reared in the District [20]. The government should address the weaknesses in environmental policies on mining and strengthen their enforcement in order to realize sustainability of the environment. It formulates policies and grants licenses for mining and mineral exploration. Oxford/IBH Publications, UK, 17-24. Mining, especially surface mining results in adverse environmental impacts on water bodies (rivers and streams) in Ghana through a release of effluents such as mercury, arsenic and solid suspensions [11, 15, 24, 25, 39]. Table 3 gives the breakdown of major minerals production in Ghana for the period 2000-2011. Some common identified factors such as ineffective community participation, cumbersome and lengthy processes in registering small-scale mines, weaknesses in the mining environmental policies and enforcement, among others are discussed. 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. it may be possible to reintroduce plant life to former mining sites in as few as 12 There is also growing potential for commercial gas and oil exploitation, with announcements of significant discoveries of off-shore oil in June 2007, which commercial exploitation started in 2010. By some estimates, it makes up nearly 45% of the total global economy, and mineral production continues to increase as demand for raw materials grows around the world. mining techniques are also becoming more popular. The population of the people in this area is about 35,760 and it is the 46th most populous town in Ghana. According to [6], stockpiling reduces the quality of the soil resources. Over millions of years, the peat is […] Nevertheless, the magnitude of damage caused largely depends on the mining method being used [11]. 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. Also, the clearing of vegetation for mining areas has adversely altered the hydrological regimes in the region. According to [3], the land has lost viability for agricultural purposes, as well as loss of habitat for birds and other animals, in addition to erosion. Strategies for sustainable development of the small-scale gold and diamond mining industry of Ghana. draining of underground water reservoirs called aquifers, which can cause Mining remains an essential and growing part of the modern industry. like Swedish mining equipment manufacturer Epiroc, even going so far as to The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), established under the Environmental Protection Agency Act of 1994, is responsible for all environmental issues in the country. of environmental and social governance (ESG). 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]. Miners hollow out a section of land, digging down to create a workable area and extract valuable raw materials. contributes to air pollution produced by mining. Here’s a quick outline of the various environmental effects of mining, and why mining is bad for the environment. 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. In the rural localities, almost 100 percent of the households (97.9%) are agricultural households. It operates under the purview of the Ministry of Mines [24]. Obuasi, one of the major mining towns in Ghana, has been described as a ‘hanging town’. Water, Air, & Soil Pollution 175(1): 181-192. Diesel-powered equipment, which naturally creates carbon emissions, further In this form of coal e… Manganese, on the other hand, is mined at Nsuta, Western region, by Ghana Manganese Company Limited (GMC), while bauxite is mined at Awaso by Ghana Bauxite Company Limited (GBC). techniques, hollows out land to extract raw materials. 1-12. 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. Journal of Cleaner Production 11(2): 215-221. toxic waste materials from leaching into the river, but the wall isn’t a 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. MSc Thesis, International Institute for Industrial Environmental Economics, Lund University, Sweden. Diamonds are mined from alluvial sources mainly from the Birim Diamond field at Akwatia and the Bonsa diamond field in the Eastern and Western regions respectively. For instance, a study by [37] in Prestea, found high levels of arsenic and antimony concentrations in the rivers ranging from 0.90 – 8.25 ppm and 0.09 – 0.75 ppm respectively, far exceeding the World Health Organizations recommended values of 0.01 and 0.005 ppm respectively. Hilson G, Nyame F (2006) Gold mining in Ghana’s forest reserves: a report on the current debate. United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (1992) Rio de Janerio, Brazil, 3 to 14 June 1992. Akabzaa T, Darimani A (2001) Impact of mining sector investment in Ghana: A study of the Tarkwa mining region. These institutions are also supported by agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency, the Geological Survey Department, the Mines Department, the Lands Commission, and the Chamber of Mines. Mensah AK (2015) Role of revegetation in restoring fertility of degraded mined soils in Ghana: A review. Expert leaders on ESG and industry professionals from within mining predict operations will begin to think more Albert K. Mensah, Ishmail O. Mahiri, Obed Owusu, Okoree D. Mireku, Ishmael Wireko, Evans A. Kissi, Albert K. Mensah1,, Ishmail O. Mahiri1, Obed Owusu2, Okoree D. Mireku3, Ishmael Wireko4, Evans A. Kissi5, 1Department of Geography, Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Kenya, 2Department of Economics, Dalhousie University, 6214 University Avenue, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, 3Department of Geography and Regional Planning, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana, 4Johnson-Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy, University of Saskatchewan, 101 Defeinbaker Place, Saskatoon, Canada, 5Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development, Georg-August-University of Gottingen, Germany. Surrounding environment air, & soil pollution 175 ( 1 ): 181-192 this presents. Easily wash the waste elements into waterways, meaning that mining will become more sustainable in western... 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