We, 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),
respectively issue this joint press statement to express our deepest concerns about the escalating
environmental, social, and economic crisis caused by illegal mining, commonly known as Galamsey,
in Ghana.
The unchecked growth of these illegal operations threatens not only the environment but
also the very fabric of our society, with far-reaching consequences for future generations.
THE ENVIRONMENTAL CRISIS
Galamsey has caused extensive degradation to Ghana’s natural environment, particularly affecting
water bodies, forests, and agricultural lands. Research conducted by some of our members has
identified alarming consequences, including:
● Water Pollution: Almost all our river systems, such as the Pra, Daboase, Ankobra, and Offin,
just to name a few, have been heavily polluted with toxic substances, especially mercury,
cadmium, lead and other potentially toxic elements of concern rendering. These have
rendered several water resources unusable for domestic purposes, affecting millions of
Ghanaians who rely on them. Recent studies reveal that over 60% of water bodies in mining
areas suffer from contamination due to illegal mining activities.
● Deforestation and Habitat Destruction: 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.
● Soil Degradation: Illegal mining operations result in the removal of the topsoil which contains
the very nutrients needed for crop production. Also, the operation involves the use of
hazardous chemicals which renders vast areas of fertile agricultural land unusable for
farming. Thes actions have implications for Ghana’s food security and exacerbation of rural
poverty.
HEALTH IMPLICATIONS
● Proliferation of non-communicable diseases: Potentially toxic elements such as cadmium,
arsenic, chromium and lead are associated with cancer and non-cancerous diseases. The
activities of galamsey operations contribute to the environmental factors that lead to Ghana
recording over 24,000 cancer cases annually. For example, arsenic may be associated with
Buruli ulcer. Further, communities near mining sites suffer from increased incidences of
respiratory diseases, skin conditions, and other health issues due to exposure to hazardous
chemicals.
● Mercury pollution: It is commonly associated with illegal mining operations. Studies show
that mercury levels in some communities are five times higher than the World Health
Organization’s recommended limits (i.e., 50 g per litre). For example, mercury levels of around
102 g per litre are reported in blood samples of residents living in galamsey-affected areas.
Additionally, concentrations of 34.5 g per litre have been found in urine samples of residents
in galamsey-affected areas.
● Cognitive malfunctions in children and deformities in unborn babies: The World Health
Organization (WHO) indicates that at high levels of exposure to these contaminants, the brain
and central nervous system can be severely damaged. Children who survive severe poisoning
from mercury, arsenic, and Lead may be left with permanent intellectual disability and
behavioural disorders. Contaminated water sources lead to the bioaccumulation of toxins in
the food chain, posing long-term health risks to the population. There are many cases of
babies born with deformities in galamsey-affected areas.
● Biomagnification in aquatic species and food chain contamination: Potentially toxic
elements such as mercury can accumulate in fish which can later be transferred to humans.
Other PTEs such as lead, cadmium and copper which are commonly associated with
haphazard handling of mine waste can become bioavailable in food crops with consequent
repercussions on human and animal health.
SOCIO-ECONOMIC CONSEQUENCES
The long-term economic costs of galamsey far outweigh the short-term gains:
● Displacement and Livelihood Loss: Farming communities are being displaced for illegal
mining activities, leading to a loss of livelihoods and increasing rural poverty. This economic
displacement fuels illegal migration and the growth of social vices, such as crime and
substance abuse, particularly among the youth.
● Threat to Public Infrastructure: 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. GWCL 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 our rivers.
● Decreased Investment in the Mining Sector: Legitimate mining companies are withdrawing
from certain regions due to the instability caused by illegal mining, leading to job losses and
reduced foreign investment in the sector.
● Burden on Healthcare Systems: The public health crises caused by heavy metal poisoning and
water pollution are straining Ghana’s already overburdened healthcare systems, with
significant long-term economic impacts.
OUR DEMANDS AND PROPOSED SOLUTIONS
In light of these pressing issues, we, the RSA of CSIR and GAEC, call upon the Government of Ghana
to take urgent, decisive, and sustained action to address the Galamsey menace. We put forward the
following demands:
1. Immediate suspension of all illegal small-scale mining activities in Ghana until there is
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. Just
as the sea is closed for a month each year to allow for a bumper harvest when it reopens,
this, in our considered view, would be tackling the galamsey menace with the urgency it
requires. The current state of our water bodies demands vigorous action, as the
consequences of illegal mining, if left unchecked, will be disastrous for the nation’s
environmental and public health.
2. Immediate recall of Parliament to repeal the Environmental Protection (Mining in Forest
Reserves) Regulation 2022 (L.I. 2462): We further demand that Parliament be urgently
recalled to immediately repeal the Environmental Protection (Mining in Forest Reserves)
Regulation 2022 (L.I. 2462), which permits mining in forest reserves. If Members of Parliament
can be recalled to grant tax exemptions for companies they believe bring substantial
investments, they should act with similar urgency to address the galamsey crisis. This issue is
a ticking time bomb, threatening to derail all the economic gains and investments made by
the nation, and thus an immediate action is needed.
3. Restoration of Degraded Lands and Water Bodies: We urge the government to initiate a
comprehensive national program for the reclamation of lands destroyed by galamsey. This
should include reforestation initiatives and the restoration of polluted water bodies, with
priority given to communities most affected by the environmental damage. The government
must collaborate with research institutions like GAEC and CSIR to employ innovative technologies in land reclamation and water purification.
4. Creation of Livelihood Alternatives for Mining Communities: The government must prioritize
the creation of alternative livelihoods for those involved in illegal mining, particularly youth
and displaced farmers. Job creation programs, vocational training, and access to financial
services for small businesses should be expanded in galamsey-affected areas. Such livelihood
programs should be instituted in such a way that they offer similar or better economic value
compared to the earnings from the galamsey operations.
5. Collaboration with Traditional Authorities and Civil Society: We call for wider collaboration
between the government, traditional authorities, and civil society organizations in the fight
against illegal mining. Chiefs and community leaders should be empowered to take active
roles in preventing illegal mining in their jurisdictions.
6. National Stakeholder Dialogue: We urge the government to convene a national dialogue that
includes researchers, environmentalists, mining companies, traditional leaders, and civil
society organizations to develop a sustainable solution to the illegal mining crisis. The sector
should be regularized to lessen its impact on the environment and human safety while also
utilizing its potential to alleviate poverty.
7. Formalization through strong regulations and strict implementation of current regulatory
frameworks: This should involve the implementation of existing laws that govern the mining
industry.
8. Strict mini-environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for small-scale artisanal mining
projects: EIA is a precautionary principle well-articulated in the AGENDA 21 document that
serves as the blueprint for sustainable development in the 21st century. It is the 15th principle
among the outline of twenty-seven (27) principles that guide every developmental project.
Thus, we argue that at least a mini-EIA should be applied and conducted for small-scale
mining projects from the initiation phase to the closure phase.
9. Self-regulation to reduce illegalities in the artisanal and small-scale gold mining sector: In
public policy, whenever something becomes difficult to govern, self-regulation could be a way
out. Here, we mean the small-scale miners’ associations could be used to police their own
activities. Here, the people police their resources and activities. In that way, they listen
more than the government having the security services go after them. Thus, self-regulation
may reduce the illegalities in the artisanal and small-scale gold mining sectors. This means
relying on the artisanal miners themselves to police their operations, i.e., through the
employment of small-scale miners’ associations.
10. Education and training on sustainable mining techniques for communities near mining sites:
Here, the miners could be trained on methods of reclaiming the land, basic accounting and
commerce, effects of the mining activities on their communities, post-mining land use
options, the use of the gold ‘katcha’ machine that extracts the gold without the use of
mercury, safe methods of mining wastes disposal, etc. this can be achieved by employing and deploying graduates from say the UMAT during their national service to registered small-scale
mining sites.
11. Incentives, improved resource access, and regular information about mining norms: We
suggest exploring more creative and long-lasting ways to regulate the sector, get a lot more
of the artisans to apply for licenses, and use the sector to combat poverty in mining towns.
Additionally, comparable tax holidays and exemptions should be provided to the unofficial
small-scale artists to enhance, stimulate, and increase their output.
CONCLUSION
The illegal mining menace poses an existential threat to Ghana’s environment, public health, and
economy. The time for rhetoric has passed; urgent and sustained action is needed now. We at CSIR
and GAEC have scientists with competence in all the areas outlined. We are committed to working
with the government and other stakeholders to formulate policies, reclaim and restore our lands,
forests, and water resources, and help restructure the entire value chain of small-scale mining in the
country. We, therefore, call on the government and other stakeholders to collaborate through funding
of research activities to find lasting solutions to the unsustainable mining practices.
By: Research Staff Association (RSA) and Research Scientists Association (RSA)
