Spatial distribution patterns of illegal artisanal small scale gold mining (Galamsey) operations in Ghana: A focus on the Western Region

Abstract

Recently, there have been efforts by stakeholders to monitor illegal mining (galamsey) activities, foster their formalization and reclaim the many abandoned wastelands in Ghana. However, limited information exists on the locations, abundance, scope and scale of galamsey types, which hinders the development of effective policy response.This study attempts to map and analyze the distribution patterns, abundance, activity statuses and the extents of nine (9) galamsey types within eleven (11) Municipal and District Assemblies (MDAs) of Ghana's Western Region. It explores the utility of field-based survey, using the Open Data Kit (ODK) system, ArcGIS and Google Earth Imagery to map and visualize different galamsey types under a hostile working environment. A total of 911 galamsey sightings, of which 547 were found in clusters (corresponding to approximately 7106 individual operational units) and 364 in stand-alone mode. Overall, a total of 7470 individual galamsey operations were encountered in 312 different communities (towns and villages).Operationally, the Alluvial Washing Board, Mill-House and Chamfi were found to be the three most popular and practiced galamsey types. The three main galamsey hotspot districts (out of the 11) are the Tarkwa Nsuaem (294 sightings and 3648 individual galamsey sites), Amenfi East (223 sightings and 1397 individual galamsey sites) and Prestea Huni-Valley Districts (156 sightings and 1130 individual galamsey sites). In terms of their activity statuses, 199 abandoned operations (entailing 1855 individual operations), 664 active (entailing 5055 individuals operations) and 48 semi-active (comprising 560 individuals within clusters) galamsey operations were sighted at the time of the study.While galamsey is generally acknowledged to be widespread in Ghana, the results suggest a scale that probably surpasses any previous estimate or expectation. The findings will adequately inform the prioritization of reclamation efforts.

Case finding of tuberculosis among mining communities in Ghana

“…These differences may be related to several factors including varying methods for diagnosing TB in the miners such as sputum microscopy as opposed to GeneXpert, the type of mining, the exposure to silica dust and the duration of exposure to mining conditions [ 23 ]. In the Zambia study, study participants were underground miners in copper mines while the miners in our study were likely involved in gold exploration using different mining methods ranging from surface to underground mining [ 15 , 16 , 23 , 25 , 26 ].…”

“…These differences may be related to several factors including varying methods for diagnosing TB in the miners such as sputum microscopy as opposed to GeneXpert, the type of mining, the exposure to silica dust and the duration of exposure to mining conditions [23]. In the Zambia study, study participants were underground miners in copper mines while the miners in our study were likely involved in gold exploration using different mining methods ranging from surface to underground mining [15,16,23,25,26]. The rate of rifampicin resistance found among our study population (5.3%) was slightly higher than the 4.3% drug resistance recorded among South African gold miners and their dependents but much higher than the 1.3% reported from the 2018 national surveillance data from Ghana [27,28].…”

Mapping and Monitoring Small-Scale Mining Activities in Ghana using Sentinel-1 Time Series (2015–2019)

“…This is principally attributable to excessive cloud cover in the southern part of Ghana where illegal mining mostly takes place, and the difficulty in obtaining usable optical images. Owusu-Nimo et al [44] mapped and analyzed the spatial distribution patterns of artisanal small-scale gold mining in the Western region of Ghana, but did not use satellite imagery nor quantified the extent/area of the activity in the region. They generally mapped galamsey sites as points using field-based surveys and found a total of 911 galamsey sightings comprising of 7470 individual operations in 312 communities across 11 municipal and district assemblies in Western region.…”

Cancer control in Ghana: A narrative review in global context

“…In 2017, 40.65% of the population were in the agricultural sector ( The Statistics Portal, 2017 ); hence, there may be a high probability of exposure to agrochemicals and other chemical or biological agents. Again, small scale mining is widespread in some geographical regions of Ghana ( Owusu-Nimo et al., 2018 ). Majority of the citizens engaged in this practice, do it illegally.…”