Three Research bodies in Ghana, the Research Staff Association (RSA) and the Research Scientists Association (RSA) of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC), has respectively issued a joint press statement to express their deepest concerns about the escalating environmental, social, and economic crisis caused by illegal mining, commonly known as Galamsey, in Ghana.
The unchecked growth of these illegal operations threatens not only the environment but also the very fabric of our society, with far-reaching consequences for future generations.
The statement is jointly issued and signed by Ing. Dr. Shadrack Kwadwo Amponsah National President, Research Staff Association, CSIR and Dr. Christian Nuviadenu National President, Research Scientists Association, GAEC
THE ENVIRONMENTAL CRISIS
Galamsey has caused extensive degradation to Ghana’s natural environment, particularly affecting water bodies, forests, and agricultural lands. Research conducted by some of our members has identified alarming consequences, including:
● Water Pollution: Almost all our river systems, such as the Pra, Daboase, Ankobra, and Offin, just to name a few, have been heavily polluted with toxic substances, especially mercury, cadmium, lead and other potentially toxic elements of concern rendering.
These have rendered several water resources unusable for domestic purposes, affecting millions of Ghanaians who rely on them.
Recent studies reveal that over 60% of water bodies in mining areas suffer from contamination due to illegal mining activities.
● Deforestation and Habitat Destruction: Large tracts of forested land have been destroyed to make way for galamsey activities.
This has led to the loss of biodiversity with an estimated loss of 50,000 hectares of forest annually.
● Soil Degradation: Illegal mining operations result in the removal of the topsoil which contains the very nutrients needed for crop production.
Also, the operation involves the use of hazardous chemicals which renders vast areas of fertile agricultural land unusable for farming. Thes actions have implications for Ghana’s food security and exacerbation of rural poverty.
HEALTH IMPLICATIONS
● Proliferation of non-communicable diseases: Potentially toxic elements such as cadmium, arsenic, chromium and lead are associated with cancer and non-cancerous diseases.
The activities of galamsey operations contribute to the environmental factors that lead to Ghana recording over 24,000 cancer cases annually.
For example, arsenic may be associated with Buruli ulcer.
Further, communities near mining sites suffer from increased incidences of respiratory diseases, skin conditions, and other health issues due to exposure to hazardous chemicals.
● Mercury pollution: It is commonly associated with illegal mining operations. Studies show that mercury levels in some communities are five times higher than the World Health Organization’s recommended limits (i.e., 50 g per liter).
For example, mercury levels of around 102 g per liter are reported in blood samples of residents living in galamsey-affected areas.
Additionally, concentrations of 34.5 g per liter have been found in urine samples of residents in galamsey-affected areas. ● Cognitive malfunctions in children and deformities in unborn babies: The World Health Organization (WHO) indicates that at high levels of exposure to these contaminants, the brain and central nervous system can be severely damaged.
Children who survive severe poisoning from mercury, arsenic, and Lead may be left with permanent intellectual disability and behavioural disorders. Contaminated water sources lead to the bioaccumulation of toxins in the food chain, posing long-term health risks to the population.
There are many cases of babies born with deformities in galamsey-affected areas.
● Biomagnification in aquatic species and food chain contamination: Potentially toxic elements such as mercury can accumulate in fishes which can later be transferred to humans. Other PTEs such as lead, cadmium and copper which are commonly associated with haphazard handling of mine-waste can become bioavailable in food crops with consequent repercussion on human and animal health.
SOCIO-ECONOMIC CONSEQUENCES
The long-term economic costs of galamsey far outweigh the short-term gains:
● Displacement and Livelihood Loss: Farming communities are being displaced for illegal mining activities, leading to a loss of livelihoods and increasing rural poverty.
This economic displacement fuels illegal migration and the growth of social vices, such as crime and substance abuse, particularly among the youth.
● Threat to Public Infrastructure: The siltation and pollution of water bodies resulting from galamsey operations have severely strained water treatment facilities, leading to increased operational costs for the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) and frequent interruptions in water supply, impacting both urban and rural areas.
GWCL is grappling with significant challenges from the elevated turbidity levels, which not only complicate the treatment of potable water but also cause damage to their pumps due to the current state of our rivers.
● Decreased Investment in the Mining Sector: Legitimate mining companies are withdrawing from certain regions due to the instability caused by illegal mining, leading to job losses and reduced foreign investment in the sector.
● Burden on Healthcare Systems: The public health crises caused by heavy metal poisoning and water pollution are straining Ghana’s already overburdened healthcare systems, with significant long-term economic impacts.
OUR DEMANDS AND PROPOSED SOLUTIONS
In light of these pressing issues, we, the RSA of CSIR and GAEC, call upon the Government of Ghana to take urgent, decisive, and sustained action to address the Galamsey menace.
We put forward the following demands:
1. Immediate suspension of all illegal small-scale mining activities in Ghana until there is Support for Sustainable Mining Practices.
We call on the government to immediately suspend all illegal small-scale mining activities in the country for a period not less than one year during which the government invests in promoting sustainable, eco-friendly mining practices by providing technical and financial support to small-scale miners.
This will help formalize the sector and reduce the reliance on destructive mining methods thereafter. Just as the sea is closed for a month each year to allow for a bumper harvest when it reopens, this, in our considered view, would be tackling the galamsey menace with the urgency it requires.
The current state of our water bodies demands vigorous action, as the consequences of illegal mining, if left unchecked, will be disastrous for the nation’s environmental and public health.
2. Immediate recall of Parliament to repeal the Environmental Protection (Mining in Forest Reserves) Regulation 2022 (L.I. 2462):
We further demand that Parliament be urgently recalled to immediately repeal the Environmental Protection (Mining in Forest Reserves) Regulation 2022 (L.I. 2462), which permits mining in forest reserves.
If Members of Parliament can be recalled to grant tax exemptions for companies they believe bring substantial investments, they should act with similar urgency to address the galamsey crisis.
This issue is a ticking time bomb, threatening to derail all the economic gains and investments made by the nation, and thus an immediate action is needed.
3. Restoration of Degraded Lands and Water Bodies: We urge the government to initiate a comprehensive national program for the reclamation of lands destroyed by galamsey.
This should include reforestation initiatives and the restoration of polluted water bodies, with priority given to communities most affected by the environmental damage.
The government must collaborate with research institutions like GAEC and CSIR to employ innovative technologies in land reclamation and water purification.
4. Creation of Livelihood Alternatives for Mining Communities: The government must prioritize the creation of alternative livelihoods for those involved in illegal mining, particularly youth and displaced farmers.
Job creation programs, vocational training, and access to financial services for small businesses should be expanded in galamsey-affected areas. Such livelihood programs should be instituted in such a way that they offer similar or better economic value compared to the earnings from the galamsey operations.
5. Collaboration with Traditional Authorities and Civil Society: We call for wider collaboration between the government, traditional authorities, and civil society organizations in the fight against illegal mining.
Chiefs and community leaders should be empowered to take active roles in preventing illegal mining in their jurisdictions.
6. National Stakeholder Dialogue: We urge the government to convene a national dialogue that includes researchers, environmentalists, mining companies, traditional leaders, and civil society organizations to develop a sustainable solution to the illegal mining crisis.
The sector should be regularized to lessen its impact on the environment and human safety while also utilizing its potential to alleviate poverty.
7. Formalization through strong regulations and strict implementation of current regulatory frameworks: This should involve the implementation of existing laws that govern the mining industry.
8. Strict mini-Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for small-scale artisanal mining projects: EIA is a precautionary principle well-articulated in the AGENDA 21 document that serves as the blueprint for sustainable development in the 21st century.
It is the 15th principle among the outline of twenty-seven (27) principles that guide every developmental project.
Thus, we argue that at least a mini-EIA should be applied and conducted for small-scale mining projects from the initiation phase to the closure phase. 9. Self-regulation to reduce illegalities in the artisanal and small-scale gold mining sector:
In public policy, whenever something becomes difficult to govern, self-regulation could be a way out. Here, we mean the small-scale miners’ associations could be used to police their own activities. Here, the people police their own resources and activities. In that way, they listen more than the government having the security services go after them.
Thus, self-regulation may reduce the illegalities in the artisanal and small-scale gold mining sectors.
This means relying on the artisanal miners themselves to police their operations, i.e., through the employment of small-scale miners’ associations. 10. Education and training on sustainable mining techniques for communities near mining sites:
Here, the miners could be trained on methods of reclaiming the land, basic accounting and commerce, effects of the mining activities on their communities, post-mining land use options, the use of the gold ‘katcha’ machine that extracts the gold without the use of mercury, safe methods of mining wastes disposal, etc. this can be achieved by employing and deploying graduates from say the UMAT during their national service to registered small-scale mining sites. 11. Incentives, improved resource access, and regular information about mining norms:
We suggest exploring more creative and long-lasting ways to regulate the sector, get a lot more of the artisans to apply for licenses, and use the sector to combat poverty in mining towns.
Additionally, comparable tax holidays and exemptions should be provided to the unofficial small-scale artists to enhance, stimulate, and increase their output.
CONCLUSION
The illegal mining menace poses an existential threat to Ghana’s environment, public health, and economy.
The time for rhetoric has passed; urgent and sustained action is needed now. We at CSIR and GAEC have scientists with competence in all the areas outlined.
We are committed to working with the government and other stakeholders to formulate policies, reclaim and restore our lands, forests, and water resources, and help restructure the entire value chain of small-scale mining in the country.
We therefore call on the government and other stakeholders to collaborate through funding of research activities to find lasting solutions to the unsustainable mining practices.
Signed: ……………………………………………………….. Ing. Dr. Shadrack Kwadwo Amponsah National President, Research Staff Association, CSIR
Mobile: 0243571076
Email: [email protected] ………………………………………………………
Dr. Christian Nuviadenu National President, Research Scientists Association, GAEC
Mobile: 0244210623
Email: [email protected]
