Mining for many decades served as an important component of countries revenue source especially for developing countries that have been endowed with the mineral wealth. If properly managed, countries can grow their economies with proceeds from mining activities in the form of royalties and foreign exchange earnings for the export of mineral related products. Such benefits from the mining sector have in most cases been used as justification and a social license for exploration and exploitation of minerals in most communities.
When you are citing the document, use the following link http://essuir.sumdu.edu.ua/handle/123456789/3106

Dehtiarova, Iryna Borysivna

Yeboah, F.

Дегтярева, Ирина Борисовна

Дегтярьова, Ірина Борисівна

Electronic Sumy State University Institutional Repository

ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF MINING ACTIVITIES IN GHANA  Irina Dehtyarova, Frederick Yeboah Sumy State University, Ukraine  Mining for many decades served as an important component of countries revenue source especially for developing countries that have been endowed with the mineral wealth. If properly managed, countries can grow their economies with proceeds from mining activities in the form of royalties and foreign exchange earnings for the export of mineral related products. Such benefits from the mining sector have in most cases been used as justification and a social license for exploration and exploitation of minerals in most communities. The study explores and assesses mining and its impacts on communities within which mining activities takes place. The focus has been on a mining community in Ghana called Asutifi South District of Ghana where mining is vigorously carried out by an American mining giant, Newmont Mining Corporation. The study investigates the real and underlying impacts of mining activities on the community in the light of the numerous promises and prospects that mining is said to provide for communities. In as much as the mining sector have contributed and continually contributes to the economies of mineral endowed countries, one cannot lose sight of the fact that the very nature of mining itself in terms of the lifecycle of mining from discovery to closure seriously impacts on the lives of the communities in which it is undertaken. From the prospecting stages through the construction of mining infrastructure and the actual mining itself carries diverse impacts on communities that can very devastating on the one hand and developmental on the other hand. Usually some of the impacts are economics and environmental in nature and it is these impacts, real or imagined that this study sought to unravel.   Figure 1. Economic impact of mining minerals in Ghana [2]  2 202 878 021   18 892 292   19 810 287   62 348 266   2 842 821 528   6 991 088   11 157 480   64 860 940  GoldDiamondBauxiteManganeseREVENUES BY MINERALS IN US DOLLARS 2008 VS 2009 2009 2008Mining is viewed as one of the important economic activities which have the potential of contributing to the development of economies. At the same time, the environmental, health and socio-economic impacts of mining on surrounding communities have been a major concern to governments, the general public and stakeholder organizations and individuals. Whiles the contributions of mining activities to economic development of Ghana is well acknowledged, others contend that the gains from the mining sector to the economy is achieved at significant environmental, health and social costs to the country [1].  The research examines the Economics and Environmental impact of mining in Asutifi District of Ghana. Some communities within the Asutifi district area were covered for the data needed for the research. A total of 75 respondents were contacted for relevant information through questionnaire administration and interviews. In addition, institutions and organizations that hold stake in the mining and related environmental and health issues were contacted for relevant data. Data collection problems included respondents’ bias and reluctance to answer certain questions. These were tackled through segmentation of the target population and verifications from field observations.  The research revealed that mining activities have resulted in land degradation leading to limited land available for local food production and other agricultural purposes in the Asutifi district. In addition, there is pollution which has affected water resources in the area. Air and noise pollution are also evident in the area. The combined effects of environmental problems have culminated into health problems with high prevalence of diseases such as malaria, respiratory tract infections and skin diseases. The hypothesis that infection of malaria and respiratory infections among residents is inversely related to distance from the mines was confirmed. In view of efforts at restoration and intervention measures by Newmont Ghana Gold Limited in the form of re-afforestation, review of methods of operation and provision of alternative sources of drinking water to the affected communities, it has been recommended that the company revise its environmental management policy in the area to ensure that environmental effects of mining activities in the area are reduced to the barest minimum. In addition, it is recommended that the government, through the Asutifi district Assembly, build additional health centers, principally in all the villages close to the mining containment points to ensure adequate accessibility to health facilities. It is further recommended that the government of Ghana make conscious efforts to reduce the rate at which concessions are granted to mining companies in the country. All these measures should be fully integrated into the mining policy of the country  References: 1. Ghana. A supplement to mining journal. Mining journal special publication. Ghana, 2010. – 12 p. 2. Wilson Alana, Mcmahon Fred, and Cervantes Miguel. Survey of mining2012/2013. Survey director: Kenneth P. Green. Fraser Institute Annual. 2013. – 135p.  Економіка для екології: матеріали XIX Міжнародної наукової конференції, м. Суми, 30 квітня – 3 травня 2013 р. / редкол.: Д. О. Смоленніков, М. С. Шкурат. – Суми : Сумський державний університет, 2013. – C. 34-36. 

Economic and environmental impacts of mining activities in Ghana

SocioEconomic Challenges Journal (Sumy State University)

ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF MINING 
ACTIVITIES IN GHANA 
 
Irina Dehtyarova, Frederick Yeboah 
Sumy State University, Ukraine 
 
Mining for many decades served as an important component of countries 
revenue source especially for developing countries that have been endowed with 
the mineral wealth. If properly managed, countries can grow their economies with 
proceeds from mining activities in the form of royalties and foreign exchange 
earnings for the export of mineral related products. Such benefits from the mining 
sector have in most cases been used as justification and a social license for 
exploration and exploitation of minerals in most communities. 
The study explores and assesses mining and its impacts on communities 
within which mining activities takes place. The focus has been on a mining 
community in Ghana called Asutifi South District of Ghana where mining is 
vigorously carried out by an American mining giant, Newmont Mining 
Corporation. The study investigates the real and underlying impacts of mining 
activities on the community in the light of the numerous promises and prospects 
that mining is said to provide for communities. 
In as much as the mining sector have contributed and continually contributes 
to the economies of mineral endowed countries, one cannot lose sight of the fact 
that the very nature of mining itself in terms of the lifecycle of mining from 
discovery to closure seriously impacts on the lives of the communities in which it 
is undertaken. From the prospecting stages through the construction of mining 
infrastructure and the actual mining itself carries diverse impacts on communities 
that can very devastating on the one hand and developmental on the other hand. 
Usually some of the impacts are economics and environmental in nature and it is 
these impacts, real or imagined that this study sought to unravel. 
 
 
Figure 1. Economic impact of mining minerals in Ghana [2] 
 2 202 878 021  
 18 892 292  
 19 810 287  
 62 348 266  
 2 842 821 528  
 6 991 088  
 11 157 480  
 64 860 940  
Gold
Diamond
Bauxite
Manganese
REVENUES BY MINERALS IN US DOLLARS 
2008 VS 2009 
2009 2008
Mining is viewed as one of the important economic activities which have the 
potential of contributing to the development of economies. At the same time, the 
environmental, health and socio-economic impacts of mining on surrounding 
communities have been a major concern to governments, the general public and 
stakeholder organizations and individuals. Whiles the contributions of mining 
activities to economic development of Ghana is well acknowledged, others contend 
that the gains from the mining sector to the economy is achieved at significant 
environmental, health and social costs to the country [1].  
The research examines the Economics and Environmental impact of mining 
in Asutifi District of Ghana. Some communities within the Asutifi district area 
were covered for the data needed for the research. A total of 75 respondents were 
contacted for relevant information through questionnaire administration and 
interviews. In addition, institutions and organizations that hold stake in the mining 
and related environmental and health issues were contacted for relevant data. Data 
collection problems included respondents’ bias and reluctance to answer certain 
questions. These were tackled through segmentation of the target population and 
verifications from field observations.  
The research revealed that mining activities have resulted in land degradation 
leading to limited land available for local food production and other agricultural 
purposes in the Asutifi district. In addition, there is pollution which has affected 
water resources in the area. Air and noise pollution are also evident in the area. The 
combined effects of environmental problems have culminated into health problems 
with high prevalence of diseases such as malaria, respiratory tract infections and 
skin diseases. The hypothesis that infection of malaria and respiratory infections 
among residents is inversely related to distance from the mines was confirmed. 
In view of efforts at restoration and intervention measures by Newmont 
Ghana Gold Limited in the form of re-afforestation, review of methods of 
operation and provision of alternative sources of drinking water to the affected 
communities, it has been recommended that the company revise its environmental 
management policy in the area to ensure that environmental effects of mining 
activities in the area are reduced to the barest minimum. In addition, it is 
recommended that the government, through the Asutifi district Assembly, build 
additional health centers, principally in all the villages close to the mining 
containment points to ensure adequate accessibility to health facilities. It is further 
recommended that the government of Ghana make conscious efforts to reduce the 
rate at which concessions are granted to mining companies in the country. All these 
measures should be fully integrated into the mining policy of the country 
 
References: 
1. Ghana. A supplement to mining journal. Mining journal special publication. 
Ghana, 2010. – 12 p. 
2. Wilson Alana, Mcmahon Fred, and Cervantes Miguel. Survey of 
mining2012/2013. Survey director: Kenneth P. Green. Fraser Institute Annual. 
2013. – 135p. 
 Економіка для екології: матеріали XIX Міжнародної наукової 
конференції, м. Суми, 30 квітня – 3 травня 2013 р. / редкол.: Д. О. 
Смоленніков, М. С. Шкурат. – Суми : Сумський державний 
університет, 2013. – C. 34-36. 


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Economic and environmental impacts of mining activities in Ghana

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