RSA, CSIR, GAEC call for urgent action against illegal mining in Ghana

The uncontrolled illegal mining activities in the country threaten the environment and the fabric of society, with far-reaching consequences for future generations.

Galamsey has caused extensive degradation to Ghana’s natural environment, particularly, affecting water bodies, forests, and agricultural lands, 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) have lamented.

Research conducted by some members of these associations have identified alarming consequences, including water pollution, deforestation, and habitat destruction, soil degradation, proliferation of non-communicable diseases, mercury pollution, and displacement of livelihoods among others.

These were contained in a statement jointly issued by Dr. Shadrack Kwadwo Amponsah, National President, Research Staff Association, CSIR and Dr. Christian Nuviadenu, National President, Research Scientists Association, GAEC, and made available to the Ghana News Agency in Kumasi.

“Almost all our river systems, such as the Pra, Daboase, Ankobra, and Offin, have been heavily polluted with toxic substances, especially mercury, cadmium, lead and other potentially toxic elements of concern.

These have rendered several water resources unusable for domestic purposes, affecting millions of Ghanaians, who rely on them”, the statement revealed.

Recent studies show that over 60 percent of water bodies in mining areas suffer from contamination due to illegal mining activities.

Again, 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.

The activities of galamsey operations contribute to environmental factors that have led Ghana to record over 24,000 cancer cases annually.

According to the statement, studies have shown that mercury levels in some mining communities were five times higher than the World Health Organization recommended limits of 50 g per liter.

For instance, 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.

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.

The Ghana Water Company 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 the rivers.

The RSA of CSIR and GAEC therefore, called on the government of Ghana to take urgent, decisive, and sustained actions to address the galamsey menace.

The Associations call for immediate suspension of all illegal small-scale mining activities in Ghana until there was 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”, the statement explained.

The statement also called on Parliament to repeal the Environmental Protection (Mining in Forest Reserves) Regulation 2022.

There should be restoration of degraded lands and water bodies, creation of alternative livelihoods for mining communities and strong collaboration with traditional authorities and civil society.

The statement pledged to commit to working with the government and other stakeholders to formulate policies, reclaim and restore lands, forests, and water resources, as well as help restructure the entire value chain of small-scale mining in the country.