Illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, continues to have devastating impacts on the environment, with waterbodies and forest reserves coming under constant siege by illegal miners searching for the precious metal.
Experts have also warned of dire health consequences resulting from galamsey.
A Forensic Pathologist at the School of Medical Sciences of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Prof. Dr. Paul Ossei Sampene who has researched the effects of galamsey in some communities, indicates that the development has negative effects on human reproduction.
For instance, children are being born with deformities as a result of exposure of their mothers to chemicals used in mining operations.
In Ghana, the government has made fruitless efforts to combat the menace. In its first term in office, the government of President Akufo-Addo convened the National Consultative Dialogue on Small-Scale Mining following pressure mounted by the people to stand up and save the country from further destruction by illegal mining activities.
This led to the temporary ban on small-scale mining ban and the Operation Vanguard initiative, which deployed soldiers to fight the menace. Millions of Cedis were pumped into various anti-galamsey initiatives but nothing positive was achieved.
In a collaborative effort to ensure responsible mining, the World Gold Council, working with its members and other strategic players, has set out the principles that could address key environmental, social and governance issues in the sector.
It is against this background that Future Africa Foundation is providing a comprehensive framework to drive change using Responsible Mining.
We impart requisite knowledge to players in the sector including traditional leaders and community members in a bid to help address the galamsey menace and its attendant health and environmental impacts.
Strategies including direct community engagements, workshops and application of multimedia channels are employed to reach out to the target groups to strike a good balance between productivity and environmental conservation.