Forecasting the Potential Economic Impact of Ecological Restoration of Illegal Mines on Employment and Household Income in Ghana

Emmanuel Kingsford Owusu ,Li Fanglin ,Nelly Ataawomba Afuubi ,Emmanuel Sogbou Kenne

doi:10.7176/jesd/11-22-07

Abstract

Ghana has a long-standing problem of illegal mining that has destroyed the environment. The country is taking steps to curb illegal mining and restore disturbed lands. The research used a social economic impact assessment in terms of outputs of a project to estimate the number of employments to be created and household income produced for communities where ecological restoration takes place. The research collected secondary data on the cost and number of individuals employed for a 1-hectare ecological restoration projects from 5 sites in AGA Obuasi mines, AGA Iduapriem mines and Newmont Ghana Gold Limited. The average number of employed individuals was 27 and average income earned associated with these projects was $2,508. From the research, projections made to meet the country’s target of restoring 23,800,000 hectares were 652,000,000 jobs and $48,984,000,000 in income. Thus, ecological restoration can boost the economy of the country, especially local economies and at the same time increase the country’s ecological integrity. Keywords: Ecological restoration, illegal mining, job creation, Household income, local economy DOI: 10.7176/JESD/11-22-07 Publication date: November 30 th 2020

Highlights

Managing natural resources in an environment is a major question researcher have delved into, owing to the connected relationship of components in the environment
In the case of illegal mining entities who are not accountable for the environmental damages in the course of their operations, the disturbed lands from their operation could led to enormous negative impact on the economy, environment and social integrity of the community and country in general
As the government intends to restore these illegal mining sites this research seeks to analyze the economic impact of ecological restoration of these illegal mining sites in terms of job creation and income in Ghana

Summary

Introduction

Managing natural resources in an environment is a major question researcher have delved into, owing to the connected relationship of components in the environment. Diverse methods have been designed and applied to provide sound and sustainable environmental management options Mining entities both legal and illegal should be responsible for restoring disturbed lands during their operations. In the case of illegal mining entities who are not accountable for the environmental damages in the course of their operations, the disturbed lands from their operation could led to enormous negative impact on the economy, environment and social integrity of the community and country in general. According to Ghana Minerals Commission, there are about 20,000 to 50,000 illegal miners as of 2013 and their operations are increasing at an exponential rate These operations have lasted over decades until it was recently banned by Government in 2017.

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