Effects of Illegal Mining on the Environment, Economy, and Agricultural Productivity

Peter Suglo; Paul Effah; Alfred Amponsah Acheampong; Raymond Sunkari; Anthony Yeboah

doi:doi:10.11648/j.bmb.20210604.11

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Effects of Illegal Mining on the Environment, Economy, and Agricultural Productivity

Peter Suglo, Paul Effah, Alfred Amponsah Acheampong, Raymond Sunkari, Anthony Yeboah

Published in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (Volume 6, Issue 4)

Received: 27 July 2021 Accepted: 10 August 2021 Published: 16 October 2021

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Abstract

The mining of minerals has contributed enormously to most African countries' economies. However, the activities involved in these sectors have turned to hunt our environment and human life due to the lack of regulation in this sector. This paper is a review of the effects of illegal mining on the environment, the economy and agricultural productivity in Ghana. The review employed key word findings at the initial stage to obtain relevant articles; peer-reviewed and non-reviewed articles, both published and non-published and other articles from reputable media sources. The findings from the study revealed that in Ghana, just like most African countries, artisanal and small-scale mining has contributed positively to the economy through job creation, increased mineral output, specifically gold, and concurrently increased the GDP of the country. Nonetheless, the downsides of unregistered and unregulated small-scale mining activities overshadow the benefits derived from it. Notable negativities associated with artisanal and small scale mining include: loss of mineral revenue through smuggling, food insecurity, destruction to surface and underground water through toxic contamination and pollution caused by mud and sediments, air and noise pollution and destruction of biodiversity, including the natural flora and fauna and water species. Death, injuries, respiratory and skin diseases, noise-induced hearing loss, physical and psychological stress, malaria, and HIV are among the common legacies of illegal mining. Among other recommendations, the study suggests that perpetrators found in illegal mining activities should be duly dealt with according to law. Also, small-scale mining concessions duly registered and regulated should be demarcated to avoid encroachment into forest reserves, farmlands, and river courses.

Published in	Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (Volume 6, Issue 4)
DOI	10.11648/j.bmb.20210604.11
Page(s)	79-91
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Ghana, Illegal Mining, Galamsey, Agriculture, Economic Cost, Environmental Impact, Health

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Peter Suglo, Paul Effah, Alfred Amponsah Acheampong, Raymond Sunkari, Anthony Yeboah. (2021). Effects of Illegal Mining on the Environment, Economy, and Agricultural Productivity. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 6(4), 79-91. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.bmb.20210604.11

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ACS Style

Peter Suglo; Paul Effah; Alfred Amponsah Acheampong; Raymond Sunkari; Anthony Yeboah. Effects of Illegal Mining on the Environment, Economy, and Agricultural Productivity. Biochem. Mol. Biol. 2021, 6(4), 79-91. doi: 10.11648/j.bmb.20210604.11

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AMA Style

Peter Suglo, Paul Effah, Alfred Amponsah Acheampong, Raymond Sunkari, Anthony Yeboah. Effects of Illegal Mining on the Environment, Economy, and Agricultural Productivity. Biochem Mol Biol. 2021;6(4):79-91. doi: 10.11648/j.bmb.20210604.11

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@article{10.11648/j.bmb.20210604.11,
  author = {Peter Suglo and Paul Effah and Alfred Amponsah Acheampong and Raymond Sunkari and Anthony Yeboah},
  title = {Effects of Illegal Mining on the Environment, Economy, and Agricultural Productivity},
  journal = {Biochemistry and Molecular Biology},
  volume = {6},
  number = {4},
  pages = {79-91},
  doi = {10.11648/j.bmb.20210604.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.bmb.20210604.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.bmb.20210604.11},
  abstract = {The mining of minerals has contributed enormously to most African countries' economies. However, the activities involved in these sectors have turned to hunt our environment and human life due to the lack of regulation in this sector. This paper is a review of the effects of illegal mining on the environment, the economy and agricultural productivity in Ghana. The review employed key word findings at the initial stage to obtain relevant articles; peer-reviewed and non-reviewed articles, both published and non-published and other articles from reputable media sources. The findings from the study revealed that in Ghana, just like most African countries, artisanal and small-scale mining has contributed positively to the economy through job creation, increased mineral output, specifically gold, and concurrently increased the GDP of the country. Nonetheless, the downsides of unregistered and unregulated small-scale mining activities overshadow the benefits derived from it. Notable negativities associated with artisanal and small scale mining include: loss of mineral revenue through smuggling, food insecurity, destruction to surface and underground water through toxic contamination and pollution caused by mud and sediments, air and noise pollution and destruction of biodiversity, including the natural flora and fauna and water species. Death, injuries, respiratory and skin diseases, noise-induced hearing loss, physical and psychological stress, malaria, and HIV are among the common legacies of illegal mining. Among other recommendations, the study suggests that perpetrators found in illegal mining activities should be duly dealt with according to law. Also, small-scale mining concessions duly registered and regulated should be demarcated to avoid encroachment into forest reserves, farmlands, and river courses.},
 year = {2021}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Effects of Illegal Mining on the Environment, Economy, and Agricultural Productivity
AU  - Peter Suglo
AU  - Paul Effah
AU  - Alfred Amponsah Acheampong
AU  - Raymond Sunkari
AU  - Anthony Yeboah
Y1  - 2021/10/16
PY  - 2021
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.bmb.20210604.11
DO  - 10.11648/j.bmb.20210604.11
T2  - Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
JF  - Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
JO  - Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
SP  - 79
EP  - 91
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2575-5048
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.bmb.20210604.11
AB  - The mining of minerals has contributed enormously to most African countries' economies. However, the activities involved in these sectors have turned to hunt our environment and human life due to the lack of regulation in this sector. This paper is a review of the effects of illegal mining on the environment, the economy and agricultural productivity in Ghana. The review employed key word findings at the initial stage to obtain relevant articles; peer-reviewed and non-reviewed articles, both published and non-published and other articles from reputable media sources. The findings from the study revealed that in Ghana, just like most African countries, artisanal and small-scale mining has contributed positively to the economy through job creation, increased mineral output, specifically gold, and concurrently increased the GDP of the country. Nonetheless, the downsides of unregistered and unregulated small-scale mining activities overshadow the benefits derived from it. Notable negativities associated with artisanal and small scale mining include: loss of mineral revenue through smuggling, food insecurity, destruction to surface and underground water through toxic contamination and pollution caused by mud and sediments, air and noise pollution and destruction of biodiversity, including the natural flora and fauna and water species. Death, injuries, respiratory and skin diseases, noise-induced hearing loss, physical and psychological stress, malaria, and HIV are among the common legacies of illegal mining. Among other recommendations, the study suggests that perpetrators found in illegal mining activities should be duly dealt with according to law. Also, small-scale mining concessions duly registered and regulated should be demarcated to avoid encroachment into forest reserves, farmlands, and river courses.
VL  - 6
IS  - 4
ER  -

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Author Information

Peter Suglo

Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, College of Biology and the Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, China
Paul Effah

Department of Agricultural Economics, Agribusiness and Extension, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
Alfred Amponsah Acheampong

Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, College of Biology and the Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, China
Raymond Sunkari

Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Biosciences, University for Development Studies, Nyankpala Campus, Tamale, Ghana
Anthony Yeboah

College of Civil Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, China

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APA Style

Peter Suglo, Paul Effah, Alfred Amponsah Acheampong, Raymond Sunkari, Anthony Yeboah. (2021). Effects of Illegal Mining on the Environment, Economy, and Agricultural Productivity. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 6(4), 79-91. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.bmb.20210604.11

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ACS Style

Peter Suglo; Paul Effah; Alfred Amponsah Acheampong; Raymond Sunkari; Anthony Yeboah. Effects of Illegal Mining on the Environment, Economy, and Agricultural Productivity. Biochem. Mol. Biol. 2021, 6(4), 79-91. doi: 10.11648/j.bmb.20210604.11

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AMA Style

Peter Suglo, Paul Effah, Alfred Amponsah Acheampong, Raymond Sunkari, Anthony Yeboah. Effects of Illegal Mining on the Environment, Economy, and Agricultural Productivity. Biochem Mol Biol. 2021;6(4):79-91. doi: 10.11648/j.bmb.20210604.11

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.bmb.20210604.11,
  author = {Peter Suglo and Paul Effah and Alfred Amponsah Acheampong and Raymond Sunkari and Anthony Yeboah},
  title = {Effects of Illegal Mining on the Environment, Economy, and Agricultural Productivity},
  journal = {Biochemistry and Molecular Biology},
  volume = {6},
  number = {4},
  pages = {79-91},
  doi = {10.11648/j.bmb.20210604.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.bmb.20210604.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.bmb.20210604.11},
  abstract = {The mining of minerals has contributed enormously to most African countries' economies. However, the activities involved in these sectors have turned to hunt our environment and human life due to the lack of regulation in this sector. This paper is a review of the effects of illegal mining on the environment, the economy and agricultural productivity in Ghana. The review employed key word findings at the initial stage to obtain relevant articles; peer-reviewed and non-reviewed articles, both published and non-published and other articles from reputable media sources. The findings from the study revealed that in Ghana, just like most African countries, artisanal and small-scale mining has contributed positively to the economy through job creation, increased mineral output, specifically gold, and concurrently increased the GDP of the country. Nonetheless, the downsides of unregistered and unregulated small-scale mining activities overshadow the benefits derived from it. Notable negativities associated with artisanal and small scale mining include: loss of mineral revenue through smuggling, food insecurity, destruction to surface and underground water through toxic contamination and pollution caused by mud and sediments, air and noise pollution and destruction of biodiversity, including the natural flora and fauna and water species. Death, injuries, respiratory and skin diseases, noise-induced hearing loss, physical and psychological stress, malaria, and HIV are among the common legacies of illegal mining. Among other recommendations, the study suggests that perpetrators found in illegal mining activities should be duly dealt with according to law. Also, small-scale mining concessions duly registered and regulated should be demarcated to avoid encroachment into forest reserves, farmlands, and river courses.},
 year = {2021}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Effects of Illegal Mining on the Environment, Economy, and Agricultural Productivity
AU  - Peter Suglo
AU  - Paul Effah
AU  - Alfred Amponsah Acheampong
AU  - Raymond Sunkari
AU  - Anthony Yeboah
Y1  - 2021/10/16
PY  - 2021
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.bmb.20210604.11
DO  - 10.11648/j.bmb.20210604.11
T2  - Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
JF  - Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
JO  - Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
SP  - 79
EP  - 91
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2575-5048
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.bmb.20210604.11
AB  - The mining of minerals has contributed enormously to most African countries' economies. However, the activities involved in these sectors have turned to hunt our environment and human life due to the lack of regulation in this sector. This paper is a review of the effects of illegal mining on the environment, the economy and agricultural productivity in Ghana. The review employed key word findings at the initial stage to obtain relevant articles; peer-reviewed and non-reviewed articles, both published and non-published and other articles from reputable media sources. The findings from the study revealed that in Ghana, just like most African countries, artisanal and small-scale mining has contributed positively to the economy through job creation, increased mineral output, specifically gold, and concurrently increased the GDP of the country. Nonetheless, the downsides of unregistered and unregulated small-scale mining activities overshadow the benefits derived from it. Notable negativities associated with artisanal and small scale mining include: loss of mineral revenue through smuggling, food insecurity, destruction to surface and underground water through toxic contamination and pollution caused by mud and sediments, air and noise pollution and destruction of biodiversity, including the natural flora and fauna and water species. Death, injuries, respiratory and skin diseases, noise-induced hearing loss, physical and psychological stress, malaria, and HIV are among the common legacies of illegal mining. Among other recommendations, the study suggests that perpetrators found in illegal mining activities should be duly dealt with according to law. Also, small-scale mining concessions duly registered and regulated should be demarcated to avoid encroachment into forest reserves, farmlands, and river courses.
VL  - 6
IS  - 4
ER  -

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