The environmental impact of small‐scale gold mining in Ghana: identifying problems and possible solutions

This paper examines the environmental impacts of small‐scale gold mining in Ghana, and prescribes a series of recommendations for improving environmental performance in the industry. Since the enactment of the Small Scale Gold Mining Law in 1989, which effectively legalized small‐scale gold mining in the country, industrial operations, collectively, have made important contributions to national gold output, foreign exchange earnings and employment. Accompanying this pattern of socio‐economic growth, however, have been increased environmental complications – namely, mercury pollution and land degradation. The Ghanaian Minerals Commission has been burdened with most of the jurisdictional responsibilities related to small‐scale mining, but with a staff of only 35–40 people working with a pool of highly obsolete research resources, it is clearly incapable of facilitating sufficient environmental improvement on its own. It is concluded that marked environmental improvements can only be achieved if: (1) assistance is provided to the Minerals Commission from local governmental bodies and academic units; (2) industry‐specific environmental management tools and strategies are designed and implemented; (3) concerted effort is made to prospect for deposits suitable for small‐scale gold mining, a key to preventing unnecessary exploration; and (4) a nation‐wide industrial mercury study is commissioned, and a mercury retorting programme is implemented.