How sustainable are Ghana’s mining reforms to dissuade informal miners from returning?
ASM, a practice in Ghana for over a century, contributed to 40% of total gold production in 2016 and generated two billion US dollars. In 2018, it generated 2.1 million ounces of gold, employing 60% of Ghana's mining workforce. However, it also causes water pollution, land degradation, and hazardous element discharge (see Fig. 1). The Ghanaian government has been working to formalize mining operations through six main channels to improve environmental performance, address safety concerns, and increase the sector's benefits. However, these reforms have come at a cost, including water pollution, land degradation, destruction of valuable agricultural fields, and the...
