The debilitating effects of mercury use in illegal mining activities (galamsey) has resonated a strong call by experts and participants at the just ended Ghana Mining Week 2021 celebration for the amendment of the law on mercury use in Ghana.
Currently, Ghana’s laws are not against the use of mercury. The use of mercury in Artisanal/Small scale Gold Mining (ASGM) is regulated by the Mercury Act, 1989, PNDCL 217. The law authorizes the purchase and trade of mercury by registered ASGM operators and licensed traders through authorized dealers, such as the Precious Minerals Marketing Corporation (PMMC) Ltd.
Precisely, section 4 (2) requires small-scale gold miners to “observe good mining practices in the use of mercury for carrying out mining operations”. Consequently, section (5) creates an offence for illegal possession, sale or failure to observe good mining practice.
According to Mr. Johan Zietsman, the Director of Gold Recovery Company Ghana Ltd. , this provision in the law is inadequate to curb the incidence of mercury pollution. It also leaves the enforcement of the law to the police to prove that a person does not observe good mining practices.
More broadly, he advocated for the law on mercury to cover all mercury users in the country. Thus, dealing with mercury throughout the processes from its arrival at the port of entry to the final disposal.
Data shows that in Ghana, 95 per cent of land degradation is caused by alluvial galamsey along rivers and water bodies, while underground galamsey, shaft or pit mining is causing 5 per cent of environmental damage.
The environmental effects of Mercury use
Based on the Minamata Convention on Mercury Initial Assessment Report for Ghana in 2018, the amount of mercury entering Ghana is 81,060 kg Hg/y. Majority of this amount, 45,150kg Hg/y is estimated to be used by the ASGM in gold extraction with mercury amalgamation. The report highlights that 32,547.9kg Hg/y of the mercury is released into Air, 6,526.8kg Hg/y is released into water and 6,075.3kg Hg/y is released into land.
Indicatively, the extent of these damages, specifically, with mining along rivers and water bodies can be avoided, if the government controls such activities undertaken along rivers and water bodies, Mr. Zietsman asserted and further stressed that by so doing, affected areas can be taken back and rehabilitated.
Also, he advised that the government can employ river guards to patrol the country’s rivers where illegal mining activities are predominant. Furthermore, he called for public awareness on the dangers of mercury as part of educational programs in schools and the media.
Children should be prioritized in these awareness programs as those involved earn GHS20.00 per day, which amounts to GHS600.00 per month, thereby discouraging the likelihood of dropping out from school for such illegal ventures, he indicated.
Diplomatic and Executive Field Trip
As part of the Ghana Mining Week celebrations, a group of about 70 diplomats and executives went on a field trip to one of the government’s Community Mining sites, the Fanti Mines Community Mining. This was established by the government as part of its ways to regulate and formalize illegal mining activities in Ghana.
The Fanti Mines Community Mining, has since its launch, employed a lot of the youth previously engaged in galamsey. The mine does not involve the use of mercury in operations, thus environmentally friendly.
Per the operations of the mine site, miners involved receive a 60 per cent of the gold extracted while the company managing the site takes a share of 40 per cent.
Most likely, by the end of the year, the Vice President, Dr Mahamud Bawumia has indicated that the government will scale the number of such mining sites to 100 under the government’s Community Mining Scheme.
“I am reliably informed by the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources that 20 Community Mining Schemes have begun, each employing about 3,000 persons. We expect to have a hundred of such schemes by the end of the year, and with each employing 3,000, it will make a significant impact in addressing unemployment in mining communities.”
H.E. Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Vice President of Ghana
Other areas that were visited included Gold Fields Ghana as well as the Daboase Ghana Water Treatment Plant that supplies water to Tarkwa and its environs.
The Ghana Gold Expo which lasted for two days had more than 500 participants in attendance including high-ranked officials such as the Vice President of the Republic of Ghana, His Excellency Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the Western Regional Minister, Hon. Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Samuel Abu-Jinapor, South Africa’s High Commissioner to Ghana, Her Excellency Grace Jeanet Mason, among others.
READ ALSO: Tarkwa to get an airport soon- Mr. Alfred Baku hints
