The impact of artisanal gold mining on the sustainability of Ghana's river basins: The case of the Pra basin

Abstract

The study examined the critical factors influencing the sustainability of the Pra river basin in Ghana, with a focus on water pollution incidents caused by illegal mining (galamsey) activities. The study followed a quantitative research approach using data collected from 156 respondents in the Amansie Central district of Ghana. Generally, Strengths-Weaknesses-Opportunities-Threats (SWOT), Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) as a multi-criteria technique in two stages of discrete and continuous sustainability analysis and descriptive statistics were the methods of analysis. The study revealed that licensing procedures that do not address environmental impacts, government ban on illegal mining (galamsey) activities as well as poor capacity and financial constraints greatly influence the sustainability of the Pra river basin. Also, self-cleansing capacity of the river basin as well as protection of the ecological status of water in the basin were respondents’ lowest priority. The results revealed that all criteria are currently within a sustainable range with a maximum score indicating a weak sustainability level of the basin due to the pollution incidents. Building on this empirical understanding calls for defensive strategies to be employed. The study therefore recommends amongst other things that revisiting the ban on illegal mining (galamsey) activities, and at this time, within the buffer zones of the basin area is critical for implementation. This, however, calls for a strong collaboration between government, civil society organizations and local communities towards addressing the environmental, economic and human aspects of water security, sustainability and management for the basin.