The site sits near the Atewa Range Forest Reserve, an area protected by the government.
Free quoteRecently, a large amount of dirty waste water spilled over some of the forests vegetation. It came from a small gold mine that was operating without a government permit. Miners have a term for the waste water slime.
The government has worked to prevent illegal mining at small gold mines since 2017. The national water company had warned that chemicals released by galamsey could force Ghana to import all its drinking water in the near future.
Galamsey is a term used for the countrys small, illegal gold mines. It comes from the expression gather them and sell.
It must be made clear that galamsey operations come with some moral and social problems.These are open prostitution by girls between 10 and 15, abuse of alcohol, illicit use of marijuana and other hard drugs like cocaine and heroin. Incidence of armed robberies, falling educational standards in the affected communities and blatant disregard to laws, order and customs are exhibited at the highest levels.It should be noted that when galamsey is not checked, land is degraded and food production decreases.
The effect of illegal mining on economic crops which gives the nation a sustained means of foreign exchange cannot be quantified.Our security agencies, environmental agencies, chiefs, political leaders and all well-meaning persons should rise up and stop any attempt to destroy the nation in the name of gold.
The impact and effect of illegal mining galamsey towards the socio-economic development of mining communities a case study of Kenyasi in the Brong Ahafo Region. Int J Mod Soc Sci Internet. 2012 cited 2017 Nov 28 1 1 38 55.
This comes on the back on a recent quartz africa publication which states ghana is losing its rainforest faster than any other country in the world.Compared to 2017, ghana saw a 60 increase in primary rainforest loss in 2018, the worlds highest.The causes are many, but illegal artisanal and small-scale mining is a major theme.
The campaign against illegal gold mining is taking place alongside a long running conflict between ASM salt mining and Seven Seas Industries being waged in the Keta Lagoon in South East Ghana. Seven Seas, a foreign owned company has been given a concession to mine salt in and around the Keta Lagoon, a concession which has had the effect of
From electronic manufacturing companies to dental rooms gold and other precious metals are being used for various purposes. Gold has a positive impact on a nations GDP and it also create job opportunities for the community.In Ghana,the Mining industry accounts for 5 of the countrys GDP and minerals takes up 37 of the total export with gold accounting for 90 of the mineral export. Ghana is the second largest gold producer in Africa.
Notwithstanding the fact that the mining sector contributes to government revenue it also has serious negative impact on the environment and to miners.
The illegal mining sector in Ghana is plagued by several environmental and health problems. Several accidents have occurred and in some cases this has led to fatalities in the mines. In April 2013, at least 17 people were killed while mining illegally at a disused gold mine in Ghanas central region. The ground caved in on the miners as they searched for gold deposits.
Causes and Effects of Illegal Gold Mining Galamsey Activities on School Dropout and Residents at the Tutuka Central Circuit in Obuasi Municipality in Ashanti Region, Ghana July 2020 Journal of
May 30, 2017nbsp018332Illegal small-scale mining has long proliferated across Ghana, Africas second and the worlds tenth largest gold exporter. But recent foreign investment coupled with industrialisation has significantly exacerbated its negative effects. Many more people, including thousands from China, have been drawn into the sector.
By Simone Staiger Apr 7, 2020 Deforestation, English, Peru, Services 0 comments.
In Ghana, illicit artisanal mining locally known as Galamsey A compound word derived from gather and sell is rapidly increasing, making it a major driver of freshwater pollution, deforestation, forest and land degradation. It employs about one million people and supports approximately 4.5 million more McQuilken and Hilson, 2016. Between 2015 and 2018, galamsey-driven deforestation increased from 13,456 hectares to 29,275 hectares. As of 2018, the total extent of forest degradation in protected forest reserves affected by galamsey was about 1058 ha.
The Peruvian government is undertaking an unprecedented effort to halt the invasions of thousands of illegal gold mining operations. The Environment Ministry in Peru initiated the Mercury Operation 2019 with the goal to halt illegal mining and restore the buffer zone around Tambopata National Reserve. This initiative proposed four pillars 1 Mining formalization led by the Ministry of Energy and Mines 2 Agricultural Development led by the Ministry of Agriculture. 3 Eradication the human trafficking and child labor, 4 Implementation over two years.
The success of these initiatives depend on access to real-time information on mining operations. In close collaboration with national governments of both countries, SERVIR-Amazonia and SERVIR-West Africa are using Earth Observation EO and geospatial technologies to provide actionable insights on illegal gold mining activities to support forest conservation. Information on the location of illegal mining activities outside mining concessions and in proximity to target areas is provided to governments in both countries.
The effects of illegal small scale mining, popularly called galamsey, on the environment has been a cause for concern for government, environmentalist, health workers, socialists, engineers and other stakeholders in the mining industry of Ghana for sometime now, and investigations have been.