PRESENTING THE STATE OF GOLD MINING AFFAIRS IN GHANA: A SCOPING REVIEW TO INFORM NATIONAL POLICY PRIORITIES.

Abstract

Background: Just like any other mineral rich country, Ghana is burdened with huge economic, health, social, and environmental challenges associated with gold mining activities (GMA). Literature shows massive societal gains as the result of the gold mining industry. However, there is substantial gap in literature on the effects and impact of gold mining on community’s health and livelihood. There is also lack of clarity on the response actions being undertaken by key stakeholders such as the government, mining companies and community members to address negative effects. This review therefore presents an overview of how GMA in Ghana affects communities’ health and livelihood and describes the various response actions that stakeholders have resorted to cope, or deal with the negative effects. Methods: Comprehensive literature searches were conducted in 3 databases (PubMed, Medline, and Scopus) and additional sources of evidence sought from 2 Ghana University databases, grey literature, social media, and websites. Data was extracted and imported into Excel for screening and 33 sources of evidence were included in this review. The scoping review was conducted based on the 6-stage methodological framework by Arksey and O’Malley and JBI Manuel for Scoping Reviews synthesis. The review is reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) Checklist. Results: The analysis of 33 sources of evidence highlights a growing interest in the gold mining industry, with over one-third (19) of the sources published since 2019. This review reveals the complex, non-linear effects of gold mining activities, encompassing reduced agricultural productivity, land-use conflicts, economic challenges, heightened disease burden, and potential health risks. Furthermore, it delineates the distinct roles played by gold mining corporations, the Ghanaian government, and local communities in addressing the adverse impacts of gold mining activities. Research Implication: While there exists a wealth of data on the environmental and health effects of gold mining in Ghana, much of it is derived from laboratory investigations and cross-sectional studies, with disproportionate attention placed on the activities of illegal miners (Galamsey). There are limited studies from community perspectives, so participatory research with communities is needed. The review also highlights the need for implementation research that will measure the effectiveness of interventions in improving economic livelihood, safety, and health of communities. Conclusion: Living in close proximity to gold mining companies exposes individuals and communities to various adverse effects on their health and livelihoods, even if they are not directly engaged in gold mining activities. Therefore, there is a critical need for a national shift in research, interventions, and policies to achieve an equilibrium between socioeconomic gains and health.