Three prominent environmental groups, WACAM, the Centre for Public Interest Law (CEPIL), and the Centre for Environmental Impact Analysis (CEIA), have jointly condemned the devastating effects of surface mining operations in Ghana.
In a statement available to Metro TV, the groups highlighted the unlawful practices and environmental degradation caused by surface mining, including brutalization of host communities, pollution of rivers, and economic displacement.
“Surface mining has led to extensive destruction of lands, primarily occupied by farming communities,” the statement read.
“The introduction of surface mining has also introduced extraction of gold using cyanide in heap leach, a method considered by mining investors to be cost-effective.”
According to the groups, Ghana has recorded 19 official cyanide spillages between 1989 and 2003, with several other unofficial spillages into waterbodies and nearby lands.
The groups criticized the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703) for being too weak to hold mining companies accountable for environmental violations.
“The Act strips rivers of their protection in the event of surface mining operations,” they noted.
“The weakness of the Minerals and Mining Act lies in its failure to address violations of the Act effectively,” the statement added.
The groups identified weak laws, weak enforcement, pollution of rivers, lack of political will, and regulatory capture as key challenges confronting Ghana’s mining sector.
To address these issues, WACAM, CEIA, and CEPIL recommended a non-partisan approach to fighting surface mining operations, a moratorium on mining licenses, joint citizens’ mass actions, and a review of laws and regulations to include strong environmental safeguards.
“Human activities such as mining and other polluting industries have depleted the important resources of the earth,” the statement noted.
“We urge the government to take decisive action to protect Ghana’s environment and communities.”
The groups have worked in over 120 mining-affected communities, empowering residents to engage with stakeholders in the mining sector and advocate for their interests.
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