IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/epw/ejgeo0/v5y2024i3id16443.html

Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining Impact on Soil and Agriculture: Evidence from Upper Denkyira East Municipality, Ghana

Author

Listed:
  • Clifford James Fagariba
  • John Bosco Baguri Sumani
  • Asaah Sumaila Mohammed

Abstract

The gold mining industry in Ghana has made a substantial contribution to the country's economic growth by generating diverse employment opportunities, both directly and indirectly, in mining communities. This has the potential to mitigate poverty and improve the quality of life for individuals and households in rural areas, where climate change is having a disproportionate impact on small-scale farmers. Nevertheless, it is crucial to recognize that this sector has also resulted in detrimental environmental impacts. A total 150 key informants in Upper Denkyira East Municipality, comprising representatives from the Environmental Protection Agency, the Forestry Commission, the Mineral Commission, and other stakeholders, were interviewed using standardize questionnaire to ascertain the impact of mining on the soil, agriculture and the environment. The study also employed inductively coupled plasma to assess the concentration of heavy metals in soils at a small-scale mining site. The soil analyses indicated high concentrations of heavy metals, such as mercury, arsenic, nickel, zinc, and iron. The Weighted Average Index, which was used to assess the impact of mining, revealed that communities face challenges such as deforestation, low crop yields, water pollution, land tenure issues, and a high cost of living. The study's analyses of measures to address small scale mining challenges revealed that alternative livelihood, law enforcement, training and support, and access to mining concessions were perceived as suitable for addressing artisanal and small scale mining. The study concluded that stricter mining regulations, promoting sustainable mining practices, and providing comprehensive training to miners on environmental protection and land reclamation can help mitigate the negative impacts of artisanal and small-scale mining. Additionally, supporting alternative means of livelihood for mining communities, such as agriculture or eco-tourism, can reduce reliance on mining and promote sustainable development.

Suggested Citation

  • Clifford James Fagariba & John Bosco Baguri Sumani & Asaah Sumaila Mohammed, 2024. "Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining Impact on Soil and Agriculture: Evidence from Upper Denkyira East Municipality, Ghana," European Journal of Environment and Earth Sciences, European Open Science, vol. 5(3), pages 12-20, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:epw:ejgeo0:v:5:y:2024:i:3:id:16443
    DOI: 10.24018/ejgeo.2024.5.3.443
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://eu-opensci.org/index.php/ejgeo/article/view/16443
    File Function: Abstract page
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://eu-opensci.org/index.php/ejgeo/article/download/16443/3992
    File Function: Full text
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.24018/ejgeo.2024.5.3.443?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Teschner, Benjamin, 2013. "How you start matters: A comparison of Gold Fields' Tarkwa and Damang Mines and their divergent relationships with local small-scale miners in Ghana," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 38(3), pages 332-340.
    2. Mudd, Gavin M., 2007. "Global trends in gold mining: Towards quantifying environmental and resource sustainability," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 32(1-2), pages 42-56.
    3. Gavin Hilson & Chris Garforth, 2013. "‘Everyone Now is Concentrating on the Mining’: Drivers and Implications of Rural Economic Transition in the Eastern Region of Ghana," Journal of Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 49(3), pages 348-364, March.
    4. Adu-Baffour, Ferdinand & Daum, Thomas & Birner, Regina, 2021. "Governance challenges of small-scale gold mining in Ghana: Insights from a process net-map study," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 102(C).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Clifford James Fagariba & Enoch Akwasi Kosoe & Robert Yakubu Adjuik, 2025. "Analyzing the dynamics influencing artisanal and small‐scale mining in the Upper Denkyira East Municipality, Ghana," Natural Resources Forum, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 49(2), pages 1376-1400, May.
    2. Ofori, Alesia Dedaa & Awolorinke, Augustine Chiga & Amankwaah, Gad Amoako, 2025. "Appropriate technologies or appropriating technologies? Technopolitics within artisanal and small-scale mining in Ghana," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 106(C).
    3. Ofosu, George & Arthur-Holmes, Francis, 2025. "Transforming Ghana's ASM industry: The intersection of ‘mining schemes’ and stakeholder collaboration," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 105(C).
    4. Hilson, Gavin & Sauerwein, Titus & Owen, John, 2020. "Large and artisanal scale mine development: The case for autonomous co-existence," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 130(C).
    5. Larona S. Teseletso & Tsuyoshi Adachi, 2023. "Future availability of mineral resources: ultimate reserves and total material requirement," Mineral Economics, Springer;Raw Materials Group (RMG);Luleå University of Technology, vol. 36(2), pages 189-206, June.
    6. Katz-Lavigne, Sarah, 2020. "Distributional impact of corporate extraction and (un)authorised clandestine mining at and around large-scale copper- and cobalt-mining sites in DR Congo," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 65(C).
    7. Khalil Nimer & Muath Abdelqader & Cemil Kuzey & Ali Uyar, 2024. "Emission targeting and carbon emissions: The moderating effect of female directors," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 33(4), pages 3480-3504, May.
    8. Ofosu, George & Arthur-Holmes, Francis, 2025. "Becoming a friend of the foe: The evolving perspectives on the ‘cohabitation’ strategies of large-scale and artisanal and small-scale mining operations," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 195(C).
    9. Díez-Echavarría, Luisa & Villegas-Palacio, Clara & Arango-Aramburo, Santiago & Ezzine-de-Blas, Driss, 2023. "Decoupling in governance: the land governance network in a region of the Colombian Andes," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 133(C).
    10. Krausmann, Fridolin & Gingrich, Simone & Eisenmenger, Nina & Erb, Karl-Heinz & Haberl, Helmut & Fischer-Kowalski, Marina, 2009. "Growth in global materials use, GDP and population during the 20th century," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 68(10), pages 2696-2705, August.
    11. Corbett, Tony & O'Faircheallaigh, Ciaran & Regan, Anthony, 2017. "‘Designated areas’ and the regulation of artisanal and small-scale mining," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 68(C), pages 393-401.
    12. Montford, Josephine & Birner, Regina & Bosch, Christine & Kyereh, Boateng, 2026. "Converting cocoa farms into gold mines – negotiations, compensation and outcomes for farmers in Ghana," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 113(C).
    13. Baffour-Kyei, Vasco & Mensah, Amos & Owusu, Victor & Horlu, Godwin S.A.K., 2021. "Artisanal small-scale mining and livelihood assets in rural southern Ghana," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 71(C).
    14. Magambo, Isaiah & Dikgang, Johane & Gelo, Dambala & Tregenna, Fiona, 2021. "Environmental and Technical Efficiency in Large Gold Mines in Developing Countries," MPRA Paper 108068, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    15. Kotsadam, Andreas & Tolonen, Anja, 2016. "African Mining, Gender, and Local Employment," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 83(C), pages 325-339.
    16. Donkor, Peter & Siabi, Ebenezer Kwadwo & Mensah, Samuel Kofi & Frimpong, Kwasi & Vuu, Christopher & Nyantakyi, Emmanuel Kwesi & Siabi, Elikplim Sarah & Ameyaw, Albright Boachie-, 2025. "Informal artisanal and small-scale mining in sub-saharan Africa: Policy evolution, sector formalization, and future trajectories," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 109(C).
    17. Kala, Marshall, 2015. "Entrepreneurship and Poverty Reduction: The Case of the Youth in Small-Scale Mining in Ghana," Miscellaneous Publications 358828, University of Ghana, Institute of Statistical Social & Economic Research (ISSER).
    18. Schoderer, Mirja & Ott, Marlen, 2022. "Contested water- and miningscapes – Explaining the high intensity of water and mining conflicts in a meta-study," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 154(C).
    19. Guiomar Calvo & Gavin Mudd & Alicia Valero & Antonio Valero, 2016. "Decreasing Ore Grades in Global Metallic Mining: A Theoretical Issue or a Global Reality?," Resources, MDPI, vol. 5(4), pages 1-14, November.
    20. Issaka Kanton Osumanu, 2020. "Small-scale Mining and Livelihood Dynamics in North-eastern Ghana: Sustaining Rural Livelihoods in a Changing Environment," Progress in Development Studies, , vol. 20(3), pages 208-222, July.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:epw:ejgeo0:v:5:y:2024:i:3:id:16443. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Support Team (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://eu-opensci.org/index.php/ejgeo .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.