Illegal mining abound, ghost towns await

INTRODUCTION: Sometimes it takes a painful experience to make us change our ways. Proverbs 20:30 GNT

Illegal small-scale mining (popularly known as ‘galamsey’), and other forms of irresponsible mining have caused severe damage to Ghana’s Water Resources, Forest Reserves and Farm Lands. As the elders said in “Things Fall Apart”, “if one finger brought oil, it soiled the others.”

Even though only a handful of Ghanaians reap the financial rewards of galamsey, the immediate and long-term repercussions on the environment affect an entire population.

The mineral resources in the country belong to all Ghanaians, and as such, advocating for it to be managed for the collective interest of Ghanaians should not be interpreted as unreasonable. Regrettably, no Ghanaian will be immune from the effects of galamsey. Therefore, concerned Ghanaians are at liberty to hold the Government and key stakeholders accountable for every aspect of mining operations that fall foul of the Laws of Ghana.

As a nation, we have come to a crossroads, and we have to make a rational decision. That decision must be made on the pillars of honesty, patriotism, ethics, and the well-being of generations yet unborn.

THREAT OF GALAMSEY? When the ground soaks up the falling rain and bears a good crop for the farmer, it has God’s blessing. Hebrews 6:7 NLV

Illegal miners make use of sulfuric acid, mercury, arsenic, chromium, lead etc. in their operations. These chemicals contaminate water bodies (rivers, streams etc.) and can destroy some form of aquatic life. Galamsey sites which are not reclaimed and rehabilitated become unproductive and unable to sustain plant and animal life. The ecological integrity of these galamsey communities is under threat.

However, the attention should not be focused on galamsey alone.  Without efficient supervision, even licensed mining can be equally harmful.

Ore extracted by mining operations usually has two components: the ore mineral containing the desired metal and waste material referred to as gangue. Removing the gangue from the ores produces piles of waste known as tailings.

Poor tailings management by licensed miners may lead to particles of toxic metals blown by the wind or leached by rainfall, resulting in contamination of surface water, groundwater, and soils. Toxic chemicals are also emitted into the atmosphere leading to poor ambient air quality in galamsey communities.

The pollution of water bodies, soil, and the air, poses great risk to Ghanaians and wildlife alike. Residents of galamsey communities are especially exposed to high levels of pollutants. Due to the extensive work of Professor Paul Poku Sampene Ossei, there is evidence that galamsey communities are not only at risk of reproductive complications but premature death may arise in some instances.

There have been reported cases of children being born with deformities. The Paediatric Society of Ghana has expressed concern about the death of children and cognitive deficits stemming from galamsey.

Again, ingestion of dust from galamsey sites may lead to adverse health effects. Instances of lung diseases, liver and kidney diseases, skin infections, and waterborne diseases (Typhoid, Cholera etc.) from contaminated water per some reports are on the rise.

The Ghana Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists has sounded the alarm on these issues. Consequently, cities and towns that depend on water sources polluted by galamsey and other forms of irresponsible mining are far from safe.

WATER QUALITY AND SUPPLY: You who live by many waters and are rich in treasures, your end has come, the time for you to be destroyed.  Jeremiah 51:13 NIV

I have been wondering, in the past week, if Ghana is carrying out a scientific experiment to ascertain if indeed “Water is Life”. The rate of disruption of the character of rivers, streams, wetlands, aquifers, and other aquatic systems that affect the hydrologic cycle (movement of water about the earth) is alarming.

An adequate supply of wholesome drinking water is in the balance.  Irrigation and livestock watering will also be affected if galamsey is not curtailed. Some of the policy objectives of theMinistry of Sanitation and Water Resources (MSWR)are to improve access and coverage of potable water in rural and urban communities, accelerate the provision of adequate, safe, and affordable water, protect wetlands, and promote sustainable water resources development and management. How can this be achieved under the galamsey threat?

Water Resources Commission is the agency under MSWR responsible for advising the Government on any matter likely to have an adverse effect on the water resources of Ghana. Water Resources Commission has identified galamsey and the indiscriminate discharge of untreated mine effluents as a menace to some river basins in Ghana.

Additional threats affect specific river basins in peculiar ways including the following. There is deforestation and siltation in the Black Volta Basin. Regarding the Densu River Basin, there is indiscriminate harvesting of wood, use of agrochemicals in farming and harmful chemicals for fishing. Rampant use of harmful chemicals for fishing and illegal chain-saw operations occurs in the Ankobra Basin. Then again, Pra (Offin) Basin is faced with the encroachment of wetlands and buffer areas by private developers for settlement and infrastructure development.