Mining Communities Perception of Open Pit Operations: The Case of the People of Brahabebome

Economic liberalisation in Ghana has made the hitherto unprofitable mining sector the most viable sector of the economy over the past decade. Cost effectiveness consideration and improved extraction technologies have combined to make open pit mining the preferred method of mining among the large number of mining companies operating in the country. However, the open pit mining has some perceived environmental consequences. The subject matter of this dissertation is to find out the perception of people of Brahabebome of the effect of surface mining operations on the environment. The study was carried out at Brahabebome a small community in the Wassa West District of the Western Region. The objective of the study is to investigate the perception of the people on the effect of surface mining activities on the environment. Primary data were as obtained by using simple random sampling to select 100 household heads and structured questionnaires administered to them. Again structured questionnaires were administered to regulatory institutions and other stakeholders as well as a non-governmental organisation. The study sought to find out the perception of the community of the effect of surface mining operations on water, air, forest land and birds and animals. Simple percentages were used to analyse the field data. It was found out from the study that 33% of respondents disliked surface mining activities because of the noise generated during operations; 31% of respondents disliked surface mining because of the perceived pollution of streams and other water sources. Also 29% of respondents mentioned dust generated during surface mining operations as their major dislike of surface mining operations and 5% of respondents the degradation of land. From the study it was found out that majority of respondents 98% rated the contribution of surface mining activities to noise generation as very significant. Further, it was found from the study that 74% of respondents share the view that the contribution of surface mining to air pollution was very significant. Additionally, 94% of respondents rated the contribution of surface mining to the removal of vegetation and forest cover as very significant 96% of respondents rated the contribution of surface mining activities to the destruction of farmlands as very significant or above average. Excavation due to surface mining is perceived to have badly denuded the land and with inhabitants limited as to the type crops to be cultivated very few, 4% of respondents are engaged in farming. It is recommended amongst others that excess land which is not needed for surface mining operations must be ceded to the community to enable them engage in farming and other related activities. Furthermore, Government must provide the policy and legislative framework for a process by which the mining firms, Government, non-governmental Organisations (NGO’s) and the community can communicate in a proactive and constructive way which will allow mining firms minimize the perceived negative effects on the local community.