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Assessing livelihood and environmental implications of artisanal and small-scale mining: a case of Akango mining, Nzema East Municipality, Western Region, Ghana

Author

Listed:
  • Kingsford Cudjoe

    (University of Energy and Natural Resources)

  • Emmanuel Kwesi Nyantakyi

    (University of Energy and Natural Resources)

  • Julius Kwame Borkloe

    (Kumasi Technical University)

  • Emmanuel Appiah Adjei

    (Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST))

  • Ebenezer K. Siabi

    (University of Energy and Natural Resources)

  • Nana Osei Bonsu Ackerson

    (University of Energy and Natural Resources)

  • Saeed Ibn Idris Kofi Yeboah

    (University of Energy and Natural Resources)

  • Martin Kyereh Domfeh

    (University of Energy and Natural Resources)

  • Clement Apuri Wezenamo

    (University of Energy and Natural Resources)

  • Michael Owusu

    (Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST))

  • Felix Adu-Tutu

    (Sunyani Technical University)

  • Amanda Owusu

    (University of Environment and Sustainable Development)

Abstract

The environmental impacts of artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) are currently a major issue globally. There is cause for concern given the rapid loss of forest resources and pollution of water bodies through contamination with heavy metals like cyanide, arsenic, and mercury. The study investigated the livelihood and environmental implications of artisanal and small-scale gold mining in Akango, a mining community in the Nzema East Municipality of Ghana. Water and soil samples were collected, and some of their associated physiochemical and heavy metal parameters were analyzed. The study used post-classification change detection to estimate the land-use/land-cover change that occurred between 2008 and 2022 and also assessed the spatiotemporal changes and transition potential modeling of the community. Field observations, interviews, and semi-structured questionnaires were employed to obtain first-hand experience regarding the study. The spatiotemporal land-use analyses found a significant increase in mining areas and subsequent settlement expansion, primarily at the expense of water bodies and vegetation. Waterbodies had a great loss, while vegetation showed little change between the study periods. For instance, the study found a significant increase in the size of the settlement and mining areas by 41.72 and 1279.77% respectively between 2008 and 2015 in the study area. However, there was a substantial decrease in the size of the waterbody by 4.58%. Accounting for the decline in the waterbody, 38.4 and 10.02% of the waterbody were converted into mining and bare areas, respectively. In terms of social impacts, ASGM had no statistically significant impacts on school dropout, prostitution, teenage pregnancy, and child labor (p-value > 0.05) but a statistically significant impact on women's abuse, drug abuse, and high rate of in-migration (p-value

Suggested Citation

  • Kingsford Cudjoe & Emmanuel Kwesi Nyantakyi & Julius Kwame Borkloe & Emmanuel Appiah Adjei & Ebenezer K. Siabi & Nana Osei Bonsu Ackerson & Saeed Ibn Idris Kofi Yeboah & Martin Kyereh Domfeh & Clement, 2025. "Assessing livelihood and environmental implications of artisanal and small-scale mining: a case of Akango mining, Nzema East Municipality, Western Region, Ghana," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 27(5), pages 10967-10994, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:endesu:v:27:y:2025:i:5:d:10.1007_s10668-023-04339-x
    DOI: 10.1007/s10668-023-04339-x
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Cuz Potter & Alexander Constantine Lupilya, 2016. "‘You have hands, make use of them!’ Child labour in Artisanal and Small‐scale Mining in Tanzania," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 28(7), pages 1013-1028, October.
    2. Jing Shi & Ping Du & Huilong Luo & Juan Chen & Yunhui Zhang & Minghong Wu & Gang Xu, 2021. "Characteristics and Risk Assessment of Soil Polluted by Lead around Various Metal Mines in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(9), pages 1-9, April.
    3. Rui Qu & Guilin Han & Man Liu & Xiaoqiang Li, 2019. "The Mercury Behavior and Contamination in Soil Profiles in Mun River Basin, Northeast Thailand," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(21), pages 1-16, October.
    4. Arnaud Chevalier & Tarja K. Viitanen & Tarja K. Viitanen, 2003. "The long-run labour market consequences of teenage motherhood in Britain," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 16(2), pages 323-343, May.
    5. Hilson, Gavin & Pardie, Sandra, 2006. "Mercury: An agent of poverty in Ghana's small-scale gold-mining sector?," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 31(2), pages 106-116, June.
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