Artisanal and small-scale gold mining are livelihood activities with significant poverty reduction potential in developing countries like Ghana. Admittedly though, this potential is undermined by many factors; the most relevant being the human-health and environmental consequences of the uncontrolled use of mercury for gold extraction in these forms of mining. What is more, mercury-intensive artisanal and small-scale gold mining operations also impact negatively by extension, on other economic sectors.
But these are the very reasons why we must as a country; see the need to regularize the activities of ASM. For me, the legalization and formalization of small-scale gold miners would be a good first step to address the many health, social, and environmental problems the sector faces.
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