The Tarkwa Mine is a large mining facility for both large-scale and artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) in the Tarkwa Nsuaem Municipality of Ghana. ASM includes more informal mining operations. Large-scale mining accounts for the exportation of minerals to other nations, while ASM contributes to the income of people locally.
Gold mining makes a considerable economic contribution in Tarkwa. Gold mining is one of the key sectors of the national economy that has a strong impact on GDP and export income in Ghana (Chuhan-Pole et al., 2015). Within the local context, mining activities promote economic development through job creation and development of other economic sectors. This results in wage increases and better earnings and spending on housing and energy at household level (Chuhan-Pole et al., 2015).
However, apart from the economic gains, the impact on the environment is immense, especially with regards to water pollution. Research in the municipality shows that the water bodies around often have heavy metals above the acceptable World Health Organization guidelines (Obiri et al., 2016). Mining companies, both commercial and artisanal, discharge harmful chemicals such as mercury and cyanide into water sources, thus making water sustainability impossible.
Besides pollution, mining causes serious degradation of the land and vegetation. Mining operations entail huge clearance of the land causing deforestation and topsoil loss (Adjei et al., 2024). Such destruction causes the removal of the carbon sinks and affects the entire ecosystem. Consequently, abandoned mining land does not have enough nutrients, high pH of the soil, and soil holding capacity. This makes the land extremely infertile.
This destruction of ecology is the cause of socioeconomic and health problems. Mining into fertile soils leads to farmers being displaced, which makes agriculture unproductive and poses a threat to food security within the region (Adjei et al., 2024). In addition, exposure to toxic chemicals used in the process of extraction poses serious health threats, such as respiratory diseases and neurological disorders. Most of the time, the burden caused by these health and sociological issues tends to outweigh the initial economic benefits (Obiri et al., 2016).
In conclusion, despite the importance of Tarkwa Mine, there is an urgent need for sustainable interventions that would help protect both the economy and ecology. It is essential to have strict regulation of chemicals, proper supervision, and land restoration after mining (Worlanyo & Jiangfeng, 2021).
References
Adjei, B., Tudzi, E. P., Owusu-Ansah, A., Kidido, J. K., & Durán-Díaz, P. (2024). The impacts of mining industries on land tenure in Ghana: A comprehensive systematic literature review. Land, 13(9), 1386. https://doi.org/10.3390/land13091386
Chuhan-Pole, P., Dabalen, A., Kotsadam, A., Sanoh, A., & Tolonen, A. (2015). The local socioeconomic effects of gold mining: Evidence from Ghana. Policy Research Working Papers. https://doi.org/10.1596/1813-9450-7250
Obiri, S., Mattah, P., Mattah, M., Armah, F., Osae, S., Adu-kumi, S., & Yeboah, P. (2016). Assessing the environmental and socio-economic impacts of artisanal gold mining on the livelihoods of communities in the Tarkwa Nsuaem Municipality in Ghana. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 13(2), 160. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph13020160
Worlanyo, A. S., & Jiangfeng, L. (2021). Evaluating the environmental and economic impact of mining for post-mined land restoration and land-use: A review. Journal of Environmental Management, 279, 111623. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2020.111623
