ghana: Effect Of Illegal Mining On Environment

The impact of mining operations in Ghana both from the large and small scale miners are diverse and quite devastating, since it touches on the livelihood and the very existence of people. In a detailed journal, Akabzaa and Darimani, both PHD holders at the University of Ghana, reported in 2001 that large tracts of land for farming activities had been acquired by mining companies for large scale surface mining operations depriving mining communities of their source of livelihood. Additionally sporadic cyanide contamination of water bodies by large scale surface mining operations and mercury contaminations from small-scale and illegal mining activities are common features of mining communities.
http://www.gbcghana.com/1.1693217