Abstract
Mining has played an important role in the development of Ghana. Like all industries, mining has both benefits and risks for the people living in communities where minerals are found. How these environmental and health impacts are managed by the government, nearby communities and mining companies can either worsen or improve the lives of community inhabitants. The current analysis focuses on the environmental and health impacts of mining in Ghana and blends extant data from the literature as well as the co-authors' recent findings on the causes, status, trends, and consequences of mining in Ghana. The work reviews data on environmental and health impacts of mining such as pollution of water bodies, degradation of forest resources, depletion of soil nutrients, destruction of wildlife habitat, and reduction in quality and threats to human health.
Highlights
Mineral wealth is an important asset that can be used to stimulate or enhance economic growth and spur infrastructure development, including the building of schools, hospitals and road networks.1 Mining has played a substantial role in the development of Ghana, which is second only to South Africa in terms of gold production on the African continent.2 Ghana is gifted with rich mineral resources
The environmental impacts and natural resources considered in this study for assessing the impacts of mining activities in Ghana include land, agriculture, water, air and noise pollution, as these greatly influence the quality of life of people in Ghana
Mihaye recommends the following to curb the environmental and health risks posed by mining in Ghana: (a) Collaboration among governmental agencies; there is the need for an integrated approach involving all relevant stakeholders to address the multifaceted challenges confronting the mining sector; (b) Formation of small-scale mining associations; smallscale miners should form associations that interact regularly with all stakeholders in the mining sector
Summary
Mineral wealth is an important asset that can be used to stimulate or enhance economic growth and spur infrastructure development, including the building of schools, hospitals and road networks. Mining has played a substantial role in the development of Ghana, which is second only to South Africa in terms of gold production on the African continent. Ghana is gifted with rich mineral resources. Mining has played a substantial role in the development of Ghana, which is second only to South Africa in terms of gold production on the African continent.. Ghana is gifted with rich mineral resources. It was formerly called the Gold Coast due to large deposits of gold in the southern areas of Obuasi, Tarkwa and Preistea. Known as Ghana following independence in 1957, the extraction of gold and other resources continues and contributes enormously to economic development.. Notwithstanding the role played by mining to the socioeconomic development of Ghana, the adverse impacts of mining activities are increasing. One study argued that “to date, mining has a poor record in terms of its contribution to ecological development, with few communities getting significant benefits and mining sites experiencing lasting negative consequences”.6. One study argued that “to date, mining has a poor record in terms of its contribution to ecological development, with few communities getting significant benefits and mining sites experiencing lasting negative consequences”.6 Recently, many mining companies have taken steps to mitigate the effects of their past actions through the development of comprehensive impact assessment studies and approaches for dealing with the adverse effects of mining, as well as contributing to infrastructure development. Most of the mining communities in Ghana have experienced air and water pollution, as well as other forms of environmental degradation resulting from mining processes. Most mining community residents are impoverished and live in rural settings that lack basic resources such as health care services and clean potable water
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