Abstract
The surge in artisanal gold mining (AGM) activities and the associated environmental impact in Ghana have elicited several stakeholders' attempts to curb the problem. However, due to little understanding of the underlying issues, these efforts have been ineffective. This study aims to use a socio-ecological framework to analyze drivers of AGM activities, the environmental pressures, the state change, their impact on human welfare, and the management response as measures (DAPSI(W)R(M)) to the problem. Evaluate AGM's impact on Ghana's ability to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Data were collected from relevant literature on the subject and analyzed with the DAPSI(W) R(M) framework. Esteem needs, food, acceptance and friendship, and self-actualization are the main drivers of AGM activities leading to environmental pressures, including abrasion, extraction of living and non-living resources, the introduction of non-synthetic compounds, among others. State changes of the environment resulting from the pressures generated by human activities were changes in the land and forest cover (1.13%), topography (hills turned into flatland and undulating), and biota. Due to the state in the environment, water quality and availability, agriculture food production, fish yield, food safety, spiritual and cultural loss, death, injury, and health of gold miners and other stakeholders have been affected.
Highlights
Mining contributes significantly to the economic growth and development needs worldwide [1,2], making it the fifth-largest industry worldwide [3]
Recent figures indicate that gold production alone contributes about 40% of the country's gross foreign exchange earnings, making up to about 9.1% of Ghana's gross domestic product [12,13]
This study aims to understand the impact of artisanal gold mining (AGM) on Ghana's ability to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Summary
Mining contributes significantly to the economic growth and development needs worldwide [1,2], making it the fifth-largest industry worldwide [3]. There are over 70 mineral commodities that are produced by about 168 countries worldwide [4] Mining of these minerals is either on a large scale or small scale (artisanal). In most cases, artisanal gold mining (AGM) has been associated with many environmental and social impacts globally. The adverse impacts of mining activities are on the increase, especially in the artisanal sector, even though mining contributes significantly towards the socio-economic development of Ghana in terms of Received 30 April 2021; revised 18 July 2021; accepted 15 August 2021.
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