Ghana has reclaimed its position as the leading gold producer in Africa following a substantial 32% increase in gold production last year. The Ghana Chamber of Mines attributes this achievement to a rise in production across both small-scale and large-scale mining operations.
Unfortunately, Ghana now faces a severe environmental crisis resulting from illegal gold mining activities. Illicit mining has caused significant damage to the country’s forests, rivers, and other bodies of water, leading to grave health concerns within mining communities. This unlawful practice, known as galamsey, has provided a source of income for many unemployed youths in southern Ghana.
The wanton destruction caused by illegal mining poses a considerable threat to Ghana’s environment, to the extent that the country may soon be compelled to import drinking water. Additionally, the cocoa sector, which is vital to the nation’s economy, is under serious jeopardy as illegal mining encroaches upon and destroys farmland.
The government has attempted to address the issue by deploying soldiers to mining areas, adopting a military approach. Unfortunately, this tactic has not yielded significant success thus far.
In 2021, South Africa surpassed Ghana as the top gold producer on the continent due to a sharp decline in Ghana’s gold production. However, according to the Ghana Chamber of Mines, the country’s gold output rebounded to 3.7 million ounces (105 tonnes) last year, up from 2.8 million ounces in the previous year.
