Illegal mining also known as ‘galamsey’ in Ghana is widespread in various Gold and Diamond rich rural communities, and has generated controversy, which spans encroachment of forest areas, underpayment of land owners royalties, conflict with family groups regarding land-rights. Though such mining activities affect relatively small areas and also serves as a source of income and livelihood for rural mining communities and their inhabitants. there are also great environmental damages done to the surrounding natural habitat. Results vary from water body’s contamination with heavy metal to the release of mercury, which is used to extract gold, into the environment. Exposure to mercury can cause kidney problems, arthritis, miscarriage, brain damage, memory loss and psychotic reactions. It is very dangerous for babies and children’s health.
Our field reports indicate an entire area surrounding the illegal mining activity area which once was covered with cocoa and other agricultural farms like plantain and cassava are now denuded of greenery and has no agricultural activity. The President of Ghana, John Atta Mills pledged recently to fight illegal mining which has been blamed for floods that swept the West African nation's cocoa growing Eastern region quite recently, killing at least 5 people. More than 100,000 people were also reported displaced by the floodwater, which destroyed houses, roads and farms. Authorities said initial investigations showed that illegal miners had blocked the main river passage and diverted its course for their convenience. During the flooding some affected formers in towns like Akim Akrofufu near Anyinam could not return home after their farming activities and therefore have to use tall trees as their rescue place for number of days. How can illegal miners divert rivers like Birim for their activities without any local or national regulatory law? Always the rural poor suffer from some of the relaxed laws in some developing countries. If bad situations affect cities where the tycoons live, there is always a quick law and response to curb downs the situation. With my knowledge in some U.S. counties environmental laws as a civil engineer, every 2,500 square feet of any disturbing land needs a permit from the local government, and every disturbed area on a land during any activity should be stabilized with seed and straw for future plant growth and also be bounded with silt fence to prevent any erosion into water bodies.
What can we do to help these small scale illegal miners and communities being affected by their activities? Governments and international bodies must play an expanded role by providing training, educational and awareness assistance, and playing an expanded role in the dissemination and transfer of important technologies for small scale mining. There should also be improved program mechanisms for miners to apply for small-scale mining permits in their own right, so that their activities can be regulated and the necessary aid accorded to them. Communities should be empowered with education awareness programs on mining activities and its effects. They should also be empowered in bargaining strategies for fair market value of their land and the demand for mechanized bore holes as a source of drinking water.
Let’s all work together to help in such devastative situation. World Partners for Development (WPD) www.wpdprojects.org, which is an international nonprofit organization working in partnership to develop and implement sustainable innovative solutions to some of the world's most urgent challenges affecting human lives especially those in Africa is initiating an education and awareness program that will include governments, community based organizations, international organizations, and individuals to help our rural communities and the environment for quality improvement.
It will take those who have passion for humanity to champion a cause in such situation.


wpdmedia, Ghana/USA
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