Assessing the Socioeconomic Environmental and Water Quality Impacts of Illegal Gold Mining in Mankranso Ashanti Region – Ghana - Implications for Sustainable Environmental Management
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Date
2025-11
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UENR
Abstract
Illegal gold mining (galamsey) has become one of the most pressing environmental and social challenges in Ghana, contributing to water pollution, land degradation, and community vulnerability. Despite its role in rural livelihoods, its unregulated nature raises major concerns for sustainability. This study examined the socioeconomic and environmental impacts of illegal smallscale gold mining (galamsey) in Mankranso, Ghana. Data were collected through household surveys (n = 372), geospatial analysis of land use and land cover (LULC) change, and river water quality monitoring. Water samples were collected from upstream, midstream, and downstream sections of mining sites and analysed for heavy metals and physicochemical parameters using standard procedures. Results showed that unemployment (44.1%) and high profitability (30.9%) were the main drivers of participation in galamsey. Communities reported social challenges such as teenage pregnancy, child labour, drug abuse, and prostitution linked to mining. Water quality deteriorated significantly downstream, with turbidity, electrical conductivity, and total dissolved solids exceeding WHO standards, while heavy metals (Pb, Hg, Cd, As, Fe) surpassed permissible limits, particularly in the wet season. Cyanide was detectable but within WHO standards. LULC analysis revealed major declines in forest and agricultural land, with increases in bare land and mining areas, confirming widespread land degradation and riverbank erosion. Classification accuracies exceeded 85% (Kappa > 0.80). Overall, the findings highlight the dual role of galamsey as a livelihood source and a driver of severe environmental degradation and social disruption. The study recommends integrated interventions combining alternative livelihood support, stricter regulation, improved water supply, community education, and sustained geospatial monitoring to safeguard public health and natural resources.
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Environmental Challenge, Communities, Water