The Implications of Environmental Threats of Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining (Galamsey) On Rural Livelihood Diversifications in the Upper West Region of Ghana

Abstract

Artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM), a low-tech, low output, low capital investment and low formalization have become prevalent in developing countries including Ghana. The study investigated the implications of environmental threats of artisanal and small-scale gold mining (Galamsey) on rural livelihood diversifications in the Upper West Region of Ghana. The study seeks to: examine the mode of operations of and the driving factors of ASGM, assess the socioeconomic implications of ASGM, explore the effects of ASGM on rural livelihoods diversification, analyze the environmental effects of Land Use Land Cover trends driven by ASGM and evaluate laws and government policies governing the mining sector in the Upper West Region. The study relied on pragmatism as a philosophical underpinning. The research is a case study which relies on explanatory concurrent triangulation mixed method involving simple random, snowball and purposive sampling methods. The study selected 320 community members using a simple random sampling as well as 40 artisanal and small-scale gold miners using snowball sampling method across the 10 mining. The study also used the purposive sampling in selecting key informants for the study. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS version 24.0) was used to analyze the quantitative data whiles thematic analysis used for the qualitative data collected from the field. The results show that 78% of the miners are engaged in surface mining methods. The findings indicates that majority (73.1%) of non-miners and miners (52.5%) regard ASGM as a cause of some diseases. The study also revealed that ASGM has negatively influenced rural livelihoods that are natural-based especially agriculture. Again, the study results show majority of respondents (80.3%) pointing to land degradation as a major environmental threat of ASGM. Finally, the study reveals 100% of ASGM operators were not licensed due to several reasons. The study recommended that Minerals Commission and the EPA should promote underground mining. It also recommended that EPA, in collaboration with the Ghana Health Service, should conduct periodic sensitization programs on the health effects of ASGM. Furthermore, the Ministry of Employment, Jobs, and Labor Relations, along with the Ghana Enterprises Agency (GEA), should integrate alternative livelihood programs and job opportunities into mining community development plans. Again, the EPA and the District Assemblies should implement strict land reclamation policies and enforce sustainable mining practices to mitigate land degradation. Finally, the minerals commission should decentralize and simplify Small Scale Mining Licensing procedures for easy regularization of illegal mining activities