Researchers Proffer Bold Solutions to Galamsey

A group of research scientists with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC) have jointly proffered 11 bold solutions in curtailing illegal mining activities which has become an albatross around the neck of the country.

The menace whose fight has proven to be challenging to the State over the years is currently threatening the survival and sustainability of environment and it’s inhabitants.

In their statement, the coalition said the unchecked growth of these illegal operations threatens not only the environment but
also the very fabric of our society, with far-reaching consequences for future generations.

Among the solutions it suggested were immediate suspension of illegal mining activities, repeal of Environmental Protection (Mining in Forest Reserve) Regulation 2022 (LI 2462); Restoration of degraded lands and water bodies,stakeholders dialogue and more.

Read the Full Statement Below:
THE ESCALATING CRISIS OF ILLEGAL MINING (GALAMSEY) IN GHANA: A CALL FOR URGENT AND
DECISIVE ACTION
We, the Research Staff Association (RSA) and the Research Scientists Association (RSA) of the Council
for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC),
respectively issue this joint press statement to express our deepest concerns about the escalating
environmental, social, and economic crisis caused by illegal mining, commonly known as Galamsey,
in Ghana. The unchecked growth of these illegal operations threatens not only the environment but
also the very fabric of our society, with far-reaching consequences for future generations.

THE ENVIRONMENTAL CRISIS
Galamsey has caused extensive degradation to Ghana’s natural environment, particularly affecting
water bodies, forests, and agricultural lands. Research conducted by some of our members has identified alarming consequences, including:

• Water Pollution: Almost all our river systems, such as the Pra, Daboase, Ankobra, and Offin,
  just to name a few, have been heavily polluted with toxic substances, especially mercury,
  cadmium, lead and other potentially toxic elements of concern rendering. These have rendered several water resources unusable for domestic purposes, affecting millions of
  Ghanaians who rely on them. Recent studies reveal that over 60% of water bodies in mining
  areas suffer from contamination due to illegal mining activities.
• Deforestation and Habitat Destruction: Large tracts of forested land have been destroyed to
  make way for galamsey activities. This has led to the loss of biodiversity with an estimated
  loss of 50,000 hectares of forest annually.
• Soil Degradation: Illegal mining operations result in the removal of the topsoil which contains
  the very nutrients needed for crop production. Also, the operation involves the use of
  hazardous chemicals which renders vast areas of fertile agricultural land unusable for
  farming. Thes actions have implications for Ghana’s food security and exacerbation of rural
  poverty.

HEALTH IMPLICATIONS
● Proliferation of non-communicable diseases: Potentially toxic elements such as cadmium,
arsenic, chromium and lead are associated with cancer and non-cancerous diseases. The
activities of galamsey operations contribute to the environmental factors that lead to Ghana
recording over 24,000 cancer cases annually. For example, arsenic may be associated with Buruli ulcer. Further, communities near mining sites suffer from increased incidences of
respiratory diseases, skin conditions, and other health issues due to exposure to hazardous
chemicals.

• Mercury pollution: It is commonly associated with illegal mining operations. Studies show
  that mercury levels in some communities are five times higher than the World Health
  Organization’s recommended limits(i.e., 50 g per liter). For example, mercury levels of around
  102 g per liter are reported in blood samples of residents living in galamsey-affected areas.
  Additionally, concentrations of 34.5 g per liter have been found in urine samples of residents
  in galamsey-affected areas.
• Cognitive malfunctions in children and deformities in unborn babies: The World Health
  Organization (WHO) indicates that at high levels of exposure to these contaminants, the brain
  and central nervous system can be severely damaged. Children who survive severe poisoning
  from mercury, arsenic, and Lead may be left with permanent intellectual disability and
  behavioural disorders. Contaminated water sources lead to the bioaccumulation of toxins in
  the food chain, posing long-term health risks to the population. There are many cases of
  babies born with deformities in galamsey-affected areas.
• Biomagnification in aquatic species and food chain contamination: Potentially toxic
  elements such as mercury can accumulate in fishes which can later be transferred to humans.
  Other PTEs such as lead, cadmium and copper which are commonly associated with
  haphazard handling of mine-waste can become bioavailable in food crops with consequent
  repercussion on human and animal health.

SOCIO-ECONOMIC CONSEQUENCES
The long-term economic costs of galamsey far outweigh the short-term gains:

• Displacement and Livelihood Loss: Farming communities are being displaced for illegal
  mining activities, leading to a loss of livelihoods and increasing rural poverty. This economic
  displacement fuels illegal migration and the growth of social vices, such as crime and
  substance abuse, particularly among the youth.
• Threat to Public Infrastructure: The siltation and pollution of water bodies resulting from
  galamsey operations have severely strained water treatment facilities, leading to increased
  operational costs for the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) and frequent interruptions
  in water supply, impacting both urban and rural areas. GWCL is grappling with significant challenges from the elevated turbidity levels, which not only complicate the treatment of potable water but also cause damage to their pumps due to the current state of our rivers.
• Decreased Investment in the Mining Sector: Legitimate mining companies are withdrawing
  from certain regions due to the instability caused by illegal mining, leading to job losses and
  reduced foreign investment in the sector.
• Burden on Healthcare Systems: The public health crises caused by heavy metal poisoning and
  water pollution are straining Ghana’s already overburdened healthcare systems, with
  significant long-term economic impacts.

OUR DEMANDS AND PROPOSED SOLUTIONS
In light of these pressing issues, we, the RSA of CSIR and GAEC, call upon the Government of Ghana
to take urgent, decisive, and sustained action to address the Galamsey menace. We put forward the
following demands:

1. Immediate suspension of all illegal small-scale mining activities in Ghana until there is
   Support for Sustainable Mining Practices. We call on the government to immediately
   suspend all illegal small-scale mining activities in the country for a period not less than one
   year during which the government invests in promoting sustainable, eco-friendly mining
   practices by providing technical and financial support to small-scale miners. This will help
   formalize the sector and reduce the reliance on destructive mining methods thereafter. Just
   as the sea is closed for a month each year to allow for a bumper harvest when it reopens,
   this, in our considered view, would be tackling the galamsey menace with the urgency it
   requires. The current state of our water bodies demands vigorous action, as the
   consequences of illegal mining, if left unchecked, will be disastrous for the nation’s
   environmental and public health.
2. Immediate recall of Parliament to repeal the Environmental Protection (Mining in Forest
   Reserves) Regulation 2022 (L.I. 2462): We further demand that Parliament be urgently
   recalled to immediately repeal the Environmental Protection (Mining in Forest Reserves)
   Regulation 2022 (L.I. 2462), which permits mining in forest reserves. If Members of Parliament
   can be recalled to grant tax exemptions for companies they believe bring substantial
   investments, they should act with similar urgency to address the galamsey crisis. This issue is
   a ticking time bomb, threatening to derail all the economic gains and investments made by
   the nation, and thus an immediate action is needed.
3. Restoration of Degraded Lands and Water Bodies: We urge the government to initiate a
   comprehensive national program for the reclamation of lands destroyed by galamsey. This
   should include reforestation initiatives and the restoration of polluted water bodies, with
   priority given to communities most affected by the environmental damage. The government
   must collaborate with research institutions like GAEC and CSIR to employ innovative
   technologies in land reclamation and water purification.
4. Creation of Livelihood Alternatives for Mining Communities: The government must prioritize
   the creation of alternative livelihoods for those involved in illegal mining, particularly youth
   and displaced farmers. Job creation programs, vocational training, and access to financial
   services for small businesses should be expanded in galamsey-affected areas. Such livelihood programs should be instituted in such a way that they offer similar or better economic value compared to the earnings from the galamsey operations.
5. Collaboration with Traditional Authorities and Civil Society: We call for wider collaboration
   between the government, traditional authorities, and civil society organizations in the fight against illegal mining. Chiefs and community leaders should be empowered to take active
   roles in preventing illegal mining in their jurisdictions.
6. National Stakeholder Dialogue: We urge the government to convene a national dialogue that includes researchers, environmentalists, mining companies, traditional leaders, and civil society organizations to develop a sustainable solution to the illegal mining crisis. The sector should be regularized to lessen its impact on the environment and human safety while also utilizing its potential to alleviate poverty.
7. Formalization through strong regulations and strict implementation of current regulatory
   frameworks: This should involve the implementation of existing laws that govern the mining
   industry.
8. Strict mini-Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for small-scale artisanal mining
   projects: EIA is a precautionary principle well-articulated in the AGENDA 21 document that
   serves as the blueprint for sustainable development in the 21st century. It is the 15th principle
   among the outline of twenty-seven (27) principles that guide every developmental project.
   Thus, we argue that at least a mini-EIA should be applied and conducted for small-scale
   mining projects from the initiation phase to the closure phase.
9. Self-regulation to reduce illegalities in the artisanal and small-scale gold mining sector: In
   public policy, whenever something becomes difficult to govern, self-regulation could be a way
   out. Here, we mean the small-scale miners’ associations could be used to police their own
   activities. Here, the people police their own resources and activities. In that way, they listen
   more than the government having the security services go after them. Thus, self-regulation may reduce the illegalities in the artisanal and small-scale gold mining sectors. This means relying on the artisanal miners themselves to police their operations, i.e., through the
   employment of small-scale miners’ associations.
10. Education and training on sustainable mining techniques for communities near mining sites:
    Here, the miners could be trained on methods of reclaiming the land, basic accounting and
    commerce, effects of the mining activities on their communities, post-mining land use
    options, the use of the gold ‘katcha’ machine that extracts the gold without the use of
    mercury, safe methods of mining wastes disposal, etc. this can be achieved by employing and deploying graduates from say the UMAT during their national service to registered small-scale
    mining sites.
11. Incentives, improved resource access, and regular information about mining norms: We
    suggest exploring more creative and long-lasting ways to regulate the sector, get a lot more
    of the artisans to apply for licenses, and use the sector to combat poverty in mining towns.
    Additionally, comparable tax holidays and exemptions should be provided to the unofficial
    small-scale artists to enhance, stimulate, and increase their output.

CONCLUSION
The illegal mining menace poses an existential threat to Ghana’s environment, public health, and
economy. The time for rhetoric has passed; urgent and sustained action is needed now. We at CSIR
and GAEC have scientists with competence in all the areas outlined. We are committed to working with the government and other stakeholders to formulate policies, reclaim and restore our lands, forests, and water resources, and help restructure the entire value chain of small-scale mining in the
country. We therefore call on the government and other stakeholders to collaborate through funding
of research activities to find lasting solutions to the unsustainable mining practices.

Source:opemsuo.com