New study shows environmental risks in small-scale gold mining in Savannah Region

Three new studies released by the European Union-funded Gold for Good Project shed light on the environmental risks associated with small-scale gold mining in Ghana's Savannah Region. The research examined the conditions in West Gonja, Bole, and Sawla-Tuna-Kalba, with over 953 people surveyed across 30 communities and 94 mining sites visited. Key findings include:

1. Mining is a lucrative but largely illegal activity, with miners earning nearly six times more than those in non-mining areas. However, only 2.92% of miners hold a license, while 74% are unaware of mining regulations.

2. The region's land is severely contaminated, with cadmium levels in soil samples exceeding safe limits in all cases. Mercury pollution is also rampant, present in 94% of the samples, posing significant health risks, especially for children playing in contaminated soil.

3. Security along the Black Volta border area is weak, characterized by poor coordination, weak enforcement, and conflicts. Traditional leaders play a crucial role, but the state's presence is minimal.

4. Women, youth, and migrant miners are largely excluded from decision-making processes, often relegated to low-paying jobs. Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Alhaji Yusif Sulemana, noted that most people along the border are breaking mining rules without proper awareness. Rev. Fr. Dr. Clement Aapengnuo, Team Leader of the Gold for Good project, emphasized that unregulated mining on the Black Volta border has become a security issue.

He stressed that enforcement alone is insufficient and called for a collaborative approach involving government, chiefs, and mining communities to bring mining operations under the law. The studies recommend focused efforts on improving coordination, facilitating the licensing process, promoting responsible gold purchasing, and restoring degraded land.