ASSESSING THE ENVIRONMENTAL AND HEALTH IMPACTS OF MINING: A

CASE STUDY IN KENYASI-AHAFO REGION, GHANA.

By
Edgar Sowah-Mensah UWB0700623
Level 300

University of Energy and Natural Resources, Sunyani

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

APRIL 2024
 ABSTRACT

Mining is a significant economic activity with the potential to drive development. However,
concerns about its environmental and health impacts on surrounding communities have
prompted widespread attention from governments, stakeholders, and the public. This
proposal investigates the environmental and health effects of mining activities in the Kenyasi
Ahafo region on local populations and nearby areas. The primary objective of this study is to
assess the environmental and health impacts of mining activities in the Kenyasi Ahafo region.
Specifically, it aims to identify the extent of land degradation, water and air pollution, and
associated health issues caused by mining activities. It is hypothesized that mining activities
in the Kenyasi Ahafo region contribute to significant environmental degradation and health
problems among local populations. Additionally, it is hypothesized that proximity to active
mining areas exacerbates these impacts on health and the environment. Data will be collected
through a combination of secondary sources such as air and water quality datasets, structured
questionnaires administered to 150 participants, and interviews with relevant institutions and
groups. Statistical analysis will be conducted using SPSS v.26 and Excel v.2019. The
proposed timeline for this study spans 11 months and the total budget for this study is
estimated at GHC 5,500 to execute the research.

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 TABLE OF CONTENT

ABSTRACT...............................................................................................................................2

INTRODUCTION......................................................................................................................4

Background to the Study........................................................................................................4

Problem Statement..................................................................................................................5

Significance of the proposed work.........................................................................................7

Research Questions................................................................................................................8

Objectives of the study...........................................................................................................9

Main Objective...................................................................................................................9

Specific Objectives.............................................................................................................9

MATERIALS AND METHODS.............................................................................................10

Description of Study Area....................................................................................................10

Study Design and Data Collection......................................................................................10

Sampling Dsign and Technique............................................................................................11

Data Analysis........................................................................................................................11

Ethical Consideration...........................................................................................................12

REFERENCES.........................................................................................................................14

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 INTRODUCTION
Background to the Study
One of the most boundless and important commodities produced by mining corporations is
minerals. Mining operations have a negative influence on the environment, which should
never be overlooked (Groh et al., 2022). Some of the corporations that can easily alter the
entire outlook of a whole community are mining, due to its wide range of impacts (Werner et
al., 2019). Mines are randomly doled out around the world and extremely disturb ecological
communities in spitting distance. The majority of these mining companies' activities result in
environmental pollution in some way, either directly or indirectly (Gibert et al., 2016). Open
cut pits, waste rock dumps, tailings dams, water storage ponds, access roads, milling and
processing equipment, supporting infrastructure (e.g. worker housing), and, in some cases,
block cave regions, heap leach pads, or quarries adorn today's mines. The mentioned
elements are generally representative of nearby places' environmental and health implications
(Hadavi et al., 2015).

Mining is the excavation of the earth to obtain naturally present minerals. It is the second-
oldest and most vital industry on the planet (Nukpezah et al., 2017). It is presently the world's
fifth-largest industry and plays an important part in economic growth. Mineral commodities
commerce accounts for a significant portion of global trade (Olivetti et al., 2017). Surface
and underground mining are the two types of mining. Surface mining, also known as open-pit
mining or strip mining, is done when a mineral deposit is found on the earth's surface. This
process is typically more cost-effective than underground mining since it uses fewer
employees to produce the same amount of ore (Nikravan et al., 2020). As an alternative,
underground mining is employed when the mineral deposit is located deep within the earth.
Any kind of mining investment requires substantial capital, regardless of the type. Businesses
involved in mining face high risks and high rewards (Kuranchie-Mensah & Amponsah-
Tawiah, 2016).

The environmental consequences of large and small-scale mining activities include not just
water contamination, but also human relocation and large-scale disasters such as tailings dam
failure, huge oil spills, or the explosion of transported explosive materials. Cases like the
Apiatse-Bogoso (Ghana) explosion in 2022 demonstrates the negative effects of mining on
the environment. Many gases are created in both large and small scale forms of mining, each
posing a unique threat to the health of people involved as well as nearby populations. Large
amounts of dust are produced by all large-scale mining operations. Dust not only degrades

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the air quality in and around the mining site but also poses a major health risk. Due to this,
workers in dusty professions, such as mining, have long been known to be more susceptible
to respiratory ailments than workers in other occupations (Barnes et al., 2019).

Though mining is a golden goose in terms of providing jobs, creating wealth, and increasing
foreign investment in a country or region (Akujuru, 2015). It's also a filthy industry for the
residents, polluting water, contaminating the air, covering homes in dust, and causing health
issues and the benefits of these activities to the region are still unclear (Clark, 2014). Booms
and busts characterize the mining industry. As a result, the health of the industry is often
closely connected to the welfare of the community (Wiegink, 2018). Furthermore, there is a
huge disparity between the welfare and incomes of mine-affected communities, as well as
those of miners who earn much more. Mining industry workers and managers get the
benefits, while the public gets the dust and dirt of the industry (Essah & Andrews, 2016).
However, little study has been done on these negative consequences or the implications of
mining on economic development in the area. There is also a scarcity of data on how and to
what degree mining operations influence the region's numerous populations' health and its
environs (Kessey & Arko, 2013). While this reserch will focuses on the concept of mining
and its effects on the environment and the health of the Kenyasi community and their
surroundings, it will also covers other topics such as mitigation measures that can be used in
both large and small scale operations to make them more sustainable and environmentally
friendly.

Problem Statement
Ghana has a variety of mineral resources and mining dates back well into the pre-colonial
times. However, since the mid-1980’s there has been a considerable increase in mining
activities, particularly gold (Tuokuu, 2019). Production of gold is dominated by homegrown
kenyasi Ahafo mines, which produced nearly half of Ghana’s total gold output. The kenyasi
mines is both surface and underground mine. The surface mining method involves removing
the top soil up to the bedrock, which bears the gold. Heavy machines are used for this
purpose. Concessions are therefore made bare and devoid of vegetation. The use of heavy
machines and chemicals underground do not only cause instability within the earth crust but
also underground water which serves as source of water to various waterbodies in the area are
affected by infiltration of toxic materials.

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Mercury contamination from gold processing and land degradation are the principal issues
arising from the mining activities in Ghana (Antabe et al., 2017). Almost all small-scale
miners in Kenyasi and its environs rely heavily on mercury amalgamation since it is cheap,
dependable and portable, and it is a relatively easy method of concentrating and removing
gold from low-grade ores (Olivetti et al., 2017). Nevertheless, now that this chemical has
been well-examined, it is well-known that in high enough quantities, it poses a serious threat
to human health and is detrimental to a wide range of ecological systems (Zhao et al., 2021).
Mercury undergoes a process of speciation in the natural environment and changes from an
inorganic to a stable methylated state (MeHg) utilizing non-enzymatic and microbial action.
When ingested, this change causes eco-toxicological effects (Common et al., 2020). There
has been extensive research on the health effects of mercury exposure in many populations
worldwide. Irritability, anxiousness, excitability, sleeplessness, dysarthria (motor speech
impairment), incoordination, and hallucinations are among symptoms of chronic poisoning.
Dizziness, vomiting, and headaches are symptoms of acute poisoning (Basu et al., 2015). The
study of mercury in small-scale gold-mining regions in Ghana has received scant attention.
Although small-scale gold mining operations in the region release an estimated five tons of
mercury into the environment each year, no mercury pollution studies have been undertaken
so far, outside of a few regional studies conducted by local universities or agencies (Clifford,
2017).

According to (Leuenberger et al., 2021), small-scale gold mining in Kenyasi has a substantial
impact on land degradation, particularly when vast tracts of forest are cleared, trenches are
dug and vegetation is uprooted, leaving bare soil that is more susceptible to erosion. The
small-scale mining industry may affect approximately 15,000ha of land. The potential sites
are often stripped bare of vegetation topsoil and abandoned pits are often left uncovered and
exposed when deep underground mining has occurred (Gallwey et al., 2020). Mining
artisanal are said to use 'excavated pits and trenches' to scar the landscape after they clear
vegetation and dig for mineral-bearing ore, which reduces the property's efficiency. These
pits often contain water and are breeding grounds for mosquitoes carrying malaria. I have
observed personally that small-scale gold mining operations in Kenyasi have seriously
damaged the land.

The vast majority of large-scale mining operations produce significant amounts of dust. Air
quality at and around mining sites is deteriorated because of dust, which also poses serious
health hazards (Shi & Wang, 2021). Another impact large-scale mining could also impose on

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the environment is the bioaccumulation of heavy metals through food chains. Heavy metal
bioaccumulation has been proven through food chains when heavy metals such as Hg and Cd
enter the ecosystem (Rai et al., 2019). They change into bioavailable chemical species that
may be absorbed by living organisms when exposed to sunlight, humidity, and other factors.
Their absolute concentration rises with each step of the food chain until they reach a
threshold where they can be hazardous to animals or humans who ingest polluted items, such
as fish from rivers or crops cultivated on contaminated land or irrigated with contaminated
water (Sikdar & Kundu, 2018). Heavy metal toxicity is dependent on the chemical
composition, element concentration, exposure method, and period of exposure. Acute and
chronic consequences might range from skin blemishes to neurological issues to various
cancers(Leyssens et al., 2017). These environmental and health effects of mining activities
have been attracting attention recently, hence, need to be addressed As a result, critical
research to assess the impact of these mining operations and recommend restoration programs
will go a long way toward enhancing the health and environment of mining activities in their
local community.

Significance of the proposed work

Mining activities are indispensable in the economic development of any country endowed
with mineral resources. This is due to the economic benefits that are made available to
countries that are involved in the extraction of mineral resources, both internal and external.
Internally, there is the creation of employment and revenue generation. Externally, a
substantial foreign exchange is available to such countries. Acknowledging the economic
contributions of mining, however, several economies lost sight of environmental and health
effects associated with mining activities.

According to Leuenberger et al., (2021), gold mining in Kenyasi (large-scale mining) has a
substantial impact on land degradation, particularly when vast tracts of forest are cleared,
trenches are dug and vegetation is uprooted, leaving bare soil that is more susceptible to
erosion. The small-scale mining industry may affect approximately 15,000 ha of land. The
potential sites are often stripped bare of vegetation topsoil and abandoned pits are often left
uncovered and exposed when deep underground mining has occurred (Gallwey et al., 2020).
Mining artisanal are said to use 'excavated pits and trenches' to scar the landscape after they
clear vegetation and dig for mineral-bearing ore, which reduces the soil efficiency. These pits

7
often contain water and are breeding grounds for mosquitoes causing malaria. A
reconnaissance survey of the small-scale gold mining operations in Kenyasi by the authors
shows a serious degradation of the land.

The vast majority of large-scale mining operations produce significant amounts of dust. Air
quality at and around mining sites is deteriorating because of dust, which also poses serious
health hazards (Shi & Wang, 2021). Another impact large-scale mining could also impose on
the environment is the biomagnification of heavy metals through food chains. Heavy metal
biomagnification has been proven through food chains when heavy metals such as Hg and Cd
enter the ecosystem (Rai et al., 2019). The heavy metals change into bioavailable chemical
species that may be absorbed by living organisms when exposed to sunlight, humidity, and
other factors. Their absolute concentrations rise at each trophic level of the food chain until
they reach a threshold where they can be hazardous to animals or humans who ingest the
polluted items, such as fish from rivers or crops cultivated on contaminated land or irrigated
with contaminated water (Sikdar & Kundu, 2018). Heavy metal toxicity is dependent on the
chemical composition, species concentration, exposure method, and duration of exposure.
Acute and chronic consequences might range from skin blemishes to neurological issues to
various cancers (Leyssens et al., 2017). These environmental and health effects of mining
activities have been attracting attention recently, hence, they need to be addressed.
Consequently, critical research to assess the impact of these mining operations and
recommended restoration programs will go a long way toward enhancing the health and
environment of human health in the local community.
In spite of the above, an assessment of the current environmental and health impacts (both
detrimental and beneficial) of the Kenyasi mines is required. The importance of this study
lies in its attempt to take a comprehensive and broad-based view of the environmental and
health effects of Kenyasi mining on nearby communities. The outcome of this study is
therefore essential to the stakeholders of the study area to implement policies to reduce the
potential human health effects of mining activities in Kenyasi and the nearby communities.

Research Questions
The study will addresses the research questions listed below:
1. What are the impact of the activities Newmont Kenyasi mines on the environment.
2. What are the trends and and level of water and air pollution due to mining?

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 3. What are the human health effects of mining on on the nearby communities in
Kenyasi?
4. What are the environmental impacts that are associated with the operations of mining
on the nearby communities in Kenyasi.

Objectives of the study

Main Objective
The main aim of this study is to assess the level of environmental and health impact of small
and large-scale mining in Keyase, Ahafo region.

Specific Objectives
Specifically, the proposed study aims to;

1. Identify the environmental impact of minig on the surrounding communities.

2. Determine the trends and and level of water and air pollution within the municipality.
3. Determine the level of health impacts on on health status of surrounding community
members.
4. Assess the environmental impacts of mining operations of the mining on the nearby
communities in Keyasi.
5.

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 MATERIALS AND METHODS
Description of Study Area.
Kenyasi, the capital of Asutifi district is located in the Ahafo Region of Ghana. About 8% of
Newmont's worldwide equity gold sales come from the Ahafo mine, which is situated in
Kenyasi in the tropical, cocoa-growing area of western Ghana (Nasirudeen et al., 2021). The
mines produced 446,000 equity ounces of gold, which is enough to continue mining for more
than 20 years, and has 9.7 million ounces of gold in reserves. (Nsiah & Schaaf, 2019). The
area is in a forest zone. Kenyasi is a major producer of cocoa and timber. The northern
section of the region is a savannah zone with significant grain and tuber production. The
region's overall populace is approximately 564,536, accounting for 1.83% of the current
country's population of 30,832,019. Kenyasi is a plateau that is cut up by forests and rises on
average around 700 feet above sea level (Enoch et al., 2021). Bauxite, manganese, and gold
are known to be present in the Dahomeyan rocks and strata that cover the region. This
explains why there is mineral extraction currently taking place now in Kenyasi. Additionally,
there are substantial sections of forest reserves, including the Desiri Forest Reserve, Bia Tam
Forest Reserve, Biaso Shelter Belt, Goa Forest Reserve, and Asukese Forest Reserve, which
together cover a total area of around 475.63 square kilometers. The ongoing operation of gold
mining activities by Newmont Ghana Gold Limited has caused widespread concern about the
effects of mining on the local economy.

Study Design and Data Collection

A cross-sectional study will be employed for this study. A primary source of data involving
questionnaires will be conducted with the inhabitants who live close to Kenyasi mines and
some mine workers of Kenyasi mines to assess their knowledge and awareness, perception,
and effects of mining in the surrounding areas, the health status of residents in the
surrounding villages, and the quality of health facilities available to inhabitants. There will
also be interviews with representatives from governmental organizations such as the Kenyasi
Municipal Assembly, the Environmental Protection Agency (E.P.A), as well as some opinion
leaders in the surrounding districts. Furthermore, there will be field observations at mine sites
and other areas to determine the environmental effects of mining operations. Primary data on
air quality will be collected in the field from May to June 2024.

Relevant review of books, relevant journal articles, and reports of studies on the impacts of
mining operations on neighboring towns will constitute the secondary data. Also, Secondary

10
data on physiochemical water quality tests performed by the Kenyasi mines will be employed
for the study. In addition to the water quality dataset, data on frequent diseases reported at the
Kenyasi Government hospital will also be utilized.

Sampling Dsign and Technique

The sample strategy proposed in this study combines simple random, stratified, and
purposeful sampling. This is due to the fact that the data will cover a range of factors
pertaining to the target population, such as the location of occupation, distance from the
mines, socioeconomic status of the respondents, and perceptions of mining operations and
their consequences on the environment. After purposefully choosing the research
communities based on their closeness to the mining sites, 150 individuals will be chosen at
random to participate in the study. To guarantee a 100% response rate, a thorough
questionnaire will be administered utilizing the interview approach to these individuals. In
all, there are 39 communities in the municipality (Population and Housing, 2021). Three
communities will be purposely selected based on their proximity to the mining site. A total of
fifty (50) respondents will be randomly selected for a questionnaire survey at each located
community at 0.5-1.5km (Yawusukrom and North Manu) and 1.5-3km (Yawusukrom) away
from mine sites. This will be done to assess whether reactions to mining effects on the
communities vary according to distance from the mines. This distribution will give a total of
one hundred and fifty respondents (150). Because the three villages included for this survey
are not concentrated in one location but rather are distributed around the municipality, the
views obtained from the total sample of one hundred and fifty (150) respondents will
properly match the attitudes of the entire population. Table 1 will give details of the sample.
The sample size formula for Yamane 1970 will be adopted, given in the equation;
N
n= 2 ; (N=Population, e is the error margin (0.08), and n=the sample size chosen.
1+ N (e)
Two healthcare professionals from Banhart and the municipal hospital will also be
interviewed to gather relevant information. In addition to them, a sample of twenty (20) mine
workers will be interviewed to get details about their health problems. These workers will
come from various sections of the Kenyasi mines.

Data Analysis
All administered questionnaires will be checked for completeness, accuracy, and consistency
of the responses. The data gathered from respondents will be edited and coded, and
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statistically analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) software (v. 22)
and Excel 2019. After the data have been entered, preliminary frequencies will be run on all
the items. This will be done to identify any missing values or wrongful entries and correct
them before the main analysis begins. Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses will be
carried out. Chi-square and other pertinent statistical and mathematical methods will be
applied where necessary for the analysis. Both qualitative and quantitative methods will be
used to explain the analyses.

Ethical Consideration
Privacy and confidentiality will be maintained throughout the study. Informed Consent will
also be obtained from all individuals. Any participant will have the right to withdraw from
the study as they so desire. Some of the items contained in the Informed consent will include
the signature column for both the researcher and the respondent.

Budget:

Category Amount (GHC)

- Printing and Stationery 1,500

- Questionnaire Development 2,000

- Transport to Research Sites 1,000

- Accommodation 1,000

Total Budget 5,500

Timeline:
Task Duration
Proposal Development and Approval April, 2024
Literature Review 5 may 2024
Questionnaire Development 7 may 2024
Data Collection

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- Administering Questionnaires 20 may 2024

- Conducting Interviews 20 may 2024

- Field Observations 20-25 may 2024

Data Entry and Analysis 28 may 2024

Report Writing 30th May 2024

Presentation and Dissemination of Findings 1st June 2024

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