Large scale mining in Ghana: a review of the implications on the host communities

Abstract

Following the implementation of the Structural Adjustment Program (SAP) in 1983, Ghana’s mining sector has experienced significant growth, making Ghana one of the 10-leading producers of gold globally and the largest in Africa since 2018. To this end, the mining industry has been contributing significantly to the country’s total export earnings and the overall Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Despite its contribution to the economy, mining in Ghana has been a subject of debate in the past few years due to its diverse impacts on the host communities. This study therefore conducted a review of the implications of large-scale mining in Ghana. Findings revealed that, mining activities gravely affect the quality of water in most mining communities due to the use of toxic substances such as mercury. Mining activities also destroy forest reserves and farmlands, cause respiratory diseases and death. The study therefore suggests an effective collaboration between all relevant stakeholders in monitoring mining activities to help mitigate the impacts on the host communities.

Dynamics of land cover changes and condition of soil and surface water quality in a Mining–Altered landscape, Ghana

“…Settlement/bare surface expanded steadily between 2003 and 2020, with a percentage increase of 228% accounted for by the combined contribution of other vegetation and plantation. Settlement/bare surface expansion along with mining growth in the studied landscape concurs well with reports of other studies in Ghana and India [ 5 , 32 , 32 ]. This settlement growth is ascribable to mining-induced socioeconomic drivers such as building to meet the housing demand for the large influx of individuals into the area, community development infrastructure built by the mining company, increased numbers and size of resettlement communities established by the mine for project-displaced people and capital injection into the local economy due to the mining business, making it affordable for individuals to build more improved houses.…”

“…The mining site increased by 13% between 2011 and 2020, compared to a 20% increase in another study [ 5 ] of the same area between 2013 and 2018. Analysis of the current LULC matrix shows that out of 478 ha of mining site area converted between 2011 and 2020, approximately 443 ha representing 93% of the conversion, went into other vegetation.…”

“…Plantation expanded mainly from the conversions of forest area compared to other land uses/covers, indicating forest transformation and degradation. The establishment and expansion of plantations at the pre-mining stage (2003) and during the operation in the landscape could be explained by the community practice of strategically planting crops in the mining area to attract higher compensation from the mining company [ 5 , 34 ]. Cropland which was predominantly converted from other vegetation and plantation increased significantly in 2020.…”

“…When measured by the Human Development Index, resource-dependent countries in Sub-Saharan Africa once experienced annual economic growth of 1.3%, which was higher than that of non-resource-dependent nations [ 4 ]. For instance, Ghana's mining sector attracts over 50% of all Foreign Direct Investments, accounts for approximately 33% of all revenues and 43% of total merchandise exports, and contributes considerably to tax, GDP, and employment [ 5 ].…”

Development of a land stability index for land damage assessment: the case of a nickel mine, North Konawe, Indonesia

“…Although mining provides a large economic contribution to the resource-producing country, land exploitation due to mining can occur and refer to land damage (Mensah et al, 2015;Okyere et al, 2021). Constraints experienced by the soil at mining sites include low organic matter content, poor pH, and low water holding capacity (Kumar, 2013).…”