Environmental Impacts of Mining in Ghana
By Yakubu Abdul-Fatawu Mining—particularly gold extraction—has long been a backbone of Ghana’s economy. Yet this industry comes at a serious environmental and social cost. Deforestation, Land Degradation & Habitat Loss Illegal small-scale mining (locally known as galamsey) has led to rampant deforestation, especially in biodiversity hotspots like forest reserves and regions such as Western, Ashanti, and Eastern Ghana . A recent study observed a significant 5.9 % decline in forest cover between 2018 and 2023, with mining areas expanding dramatically . The loss of vegetation erodes soil structure, diminishes biodiversity, and weakens ecosystems’ resilience. Water Pollution & Ecological Disruption Mining activities introduce perilous chemicals—mercury, cyanide, and arsenic—into Ghana’s river systems. They also cause siltation and turbidity, visibly turning pristine rivers brown and threatening aquatic life . These pollutants accumulate through food chains, increasing t...