The US Embassy in Ghana, is collaborating with University of Mines and Technology (UMat) to build capacities of stakeholders fighting the menace of Illegal mining in the country

They have teamed up to work closely with these stakeholders, in the fight against destruction of Ghana’s environment.

They are also using the platform to promote sustainable mining, livelihood programs, healthy environment in the midst of social and economic development, with improved structures as the cornerstone.

They have laid the foundation for key stakeholders in the country to work within their respective zones to deliver cutting edge solutions required in tackling the growing phenomenon of illegal mining in this West African country.

In line with this, a three day workshop was organized in Takoradi in Western Region. It began on Thursday 12th October 2023 and ended on Saturday 14th October 2023.

It was used primarily to sharpen the skills of the stakeholders and to empower them to continue to wage relentless war against environmental degradation and pollution in the country.

The workshop, dubbed Tech-Camp, formed part of activities being executed to improve activism in affected communities hosting illegal mining activities.

The ultimate goal, according to facilitators of the capacity building workshop, was to wage serious war against the growing phenomenon of environmental degradation, pollution of water bodies and air quality in Ghana following the incessant activities being carried out by illegal miners across the country.

At the opening session of the workshop, the Press Attaché of the US Embassy in Accra, Ghana, Kevin J. Brosnahan, charged participants to play their respective roles in stemming the growing tide of illegal mining in Ghana.

“The outcome, we see from this meeting is empowerment, empowerment of each of you with new tools, new contacts, a new network and new approaches to addressing illegal mining”

Dangers associated with illegal mining

He said “Illegal mining is one of the most challenging and serious threats to Ghana’s environment, it impacts each of you and threatens your water supply, your food and your livelihood.

Without improvement, Ghana will become a net importer of water, and lands could become infertile for Agricultural use, and yet is not an easy issue to solve”

He contended that “Finding a long term sustainable solution would require innovative ideas, it would require contributions from national and local governments, mining companies. And Associations must be part of the solution and the ingenuity must come from NGO’s, academics, entrepreneurs, innovators, and local communities.

“That’s why we have gathered fifty (50) Ghanaian participants from diverse fields to this Tech-Camp.

” You represent the public and private sectors in mining, minerals, water resources, and public health. You come from environmental organizations, academia, and the media. Look around you, introduce yourselves, you are the answer” he advised accordingly.

On his part, Vice Chancellor of University of Mines and Technology (UMaT) Professor Richard Amankwah, charged stakeholders being empowered to intensify campaign against illegal mining activities in the country. He however emphasized that they must remain steadfast, active, proactive and productive.

“If we start the conversation about small scale mining, we have the good, we have the bad, and we have the ugly” he said.

On literature about the sector, he said “So many books, chapters, and papers have been written about the industry, and if you look at it critically, about 80 % of all newspaper reportage is negative about small scale mining”

With regards to attempts being made to improve the sector, he said “Here, the conversation goes on, and I believe that many of these meetings create avenues for improvement and some of them have been applied with some amount of success whilst others are still going through several stages of refinement, and for me, the small scale mining industry is a necessary industry especially having in mind that in Ghana there are so many pockets of rich reserves that have never been mined at the large scale level, and therefore, it makes small scale mining a very important one especially as it has contributed a lot to local economic development in the communities where these activities take place”

He added “If we look at it critically, it has created jobs for many people. It has built communities and also individuals and created local entrepreneurs.

The negative side still exists, and I believe that, that is why this meeting is very important. I am happy about finding technology solutions, because, that is the key to the survival of the industry” he submitted.

The intriguing figures

It is estimated that out of the total number of Artisanal Small Scale Mining (ASSM) operators in Ghana, sixty percent (60%) are engaged in illegal or unregistered forms of activities.

Artisanal gold mining, while illegal, has become lucrative in Ghana following the revenue practitioners engaged in the enterprise accrue from the destruction of the environment.

It devastates the environment, causes serious deforestation, and pollutes water bodies as well as damaging air quality, and soil through the release of toxic chemicals into the aforementioned areas of space

The causes or factors influencing the activities of illegal mining activities in Ghana, according to researchers are in line with literature, thus high unemployment rate, high dependency rate, poverty, mining mismanagement and laws, as well as high illiteracy.

In the face of these threats of destruction being caused by illegal mining activities to the environment, the laws of Ghana have not been charitable in pursuit of suspects engaged in these activities.

Those found culpable and guilty, face the punitive measures of court fines, ranging from 50,000 penalty units up to 100,000 penalty units.

They could also face jail term of 15 years of minimum imprisonment or 25 years of maximum imprisonment or both the fine and imprisonment.

By’ Zambaga Rufai Saminu | Metrotvonline.com | Ghana