Gold Mining Projects: Environmental Impact Assessment in Ghana & SL

This report examines the crucial role of Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) in the context of future gold mining projects in Sierra Leone and Ghana. It begins by outlining the emergence and purpose of EIAs, emphasizing their benefits, such as improved project design and environmental awareness. The report details the various stages of the EIA process, including screening, scoping, baseline studies, impact prediction, and mitigation strategies. It also explores the intersection of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and EIAs, highlighting their interdependent relationship in protecting human rights and promoting sustainable development. Furthermore, the report analyzes the potential environmental impacts of gold mining, addressing global climate change, wildlife, ecological processes, and social impacts. It also addresses the role of EIA in meeting these challenges, including the application of the Aarhus Convention and the precautionary principle in the design and implementation of EIAs. Finally, it provides a brief history of gold mining in Sierra Leone and Ghana, underscoring the importance of responsible mining practices to ensure environmental sustainability and economic growth.

Environmental Impact
Assessments are vital for
future gold mining projects in
Sierra Leone and Ghana

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION....................................................................................................................................................4
Emergence or rise of environmental impact assessment....................................................................................4
What is the purpose of the EIA process?............................................................................................................5
Benefits of the EIA process................................................................................................................................5
Stages of the EIA process...................................................................................................................................6
Corporate Social responsibility and Environmental Impact assessment............................................................7
Corporate Social responsibility and Environmental Impact assessment............................................................9
CHAPTER 2 ......................................................................................................................................................9
Impact on global climate.....................................................................................................................................9
Impact on wildlife.............................................................................................................................................10
Impact of ecological processes.........................................................................................................................11
Social impacts...................................................................................................................................................12
Public safety......................................................................................................................................................13
CHAPTER 3...........................................................................................................................................................14
Potential environmental impact of future gold mining projects.......................................................................14
Role of EIA in meeting these challenges..........................................................................................................16
The Aarhus convention.....................................................................................................................................21
Application of the precautionary principle Art 6(3) of the Aarhus Convention in the design and
implementation of EIAs....................................................................................................................................23
CONCLUSION......................................................................................................................................................23
......................................................................................................................................................................25
REFERENCES.......................................................................................................................................................25

INTRODUCTION
Gold mining is the process which is conducted in the Ghana and Sierra Leone.
Various types of technologies and methods are used by these countries for gold mining which
having impact on the environment of the country. Further, it is the complicated process which
require efforts lots of people and their willingness. Gold is the most expensive metal because
it harder to find.
Emergence or rise of environmental impact assessment
The activities are lead to change and emerged in the environment along with the
changes in natural inborn function of the environmental system. These changes also affects
human beings in Sierra Leone and Ghana both and may also change their uses in
environment. These may have negative and positive impact in environmental
conditions ,which may impact or effect it 1.
The environmental impact assessment has been increasing these days as it has been
becoming the reason for conflict, as land uses conflicts from local scales to global scales.
These gold mining surfaces is the main source of such conflict,but this creates impact on
local livelihood which are often being unclear. Our objectives here was to asses land cover to
change because of gold mining surface in western Ghana, which is world's leading gold
mining area, and to know about changes how will these changes affect the usage of land. It
also shows technical aspects of the environment, which can be data gathering or any
recommendations. It is in context with all the technical activity. These assessment are taken
into consideration as a rapid technique by looking at the current scenario of the environment
ans determining their impact on such activities on the parameters of environment. It is related
to new decision making and planing of such assessments. It help to measure and predict the
environment and use to help to state the design and planning of the project. Its a creation
system in which socio-economic projects are developed for safe and substanability of the
environment. At initial stage it helps in carrying out analysing of cost benefit projects. The
society these days have a fast and a wide spreader and a large impact on the natural
environment. They require legal control to change the community control on the individual
1 Vanclay F, Esteves AM, editors. New directions in social impact assessment:
conceptual and methodological advances. Edward Elgar Publishing; 2011.

basis. The political environment and priorities has changed. These changes done by
civilizations was large and brought very slow so that they can get time to assess them. Their
impact on environment tents to be limited in impact. The society has accepted the change in
organisation and environment2.
What is the purpose of the EIA process?
The process of environmental impact assessment is a knowledge base and various
stages involved method which ensures that the environmental circumstances which are
included in decision related projects that may affect the environment. Its a process which
helps to identify the environment which effects proposed activities and how those activities
which impacts can be eased. EIA itself is a technical process which identifies, analyses the
impact on the social,culture as well as physical environment. It also gives importance and
serves in all decision making process in procedural role by promotive public and
transparency involvement. This process has no guarantee that it will rejected or modified if
process says that there is a serious impact on environment. These process also ensures us
about the informed decisions ,but its not necessary its tells about beneficial decision of
environment. It makes sure that all the issue regarding environment are raised when there is
discussion about projects and plan when all the concerns about the project is addressed
through implementing it. To be more beneficial it is important to that an environmental
assessment is done to identify major impact in the project cycle so recommendations can be
designed and cost analysis can be done without any major delays and can increase the cost of
design. As the effective implementation starts,the EIA must star leading o a mechanism
where monitoring is take into consideration to realise environmental management. An
important yield from this process should be negotiated of for such effective management3.
Benefits of the EIA process
The benefits this process can be straight like as improved design or project of
location or it can be indirect like environmental impact assessment work done in better
2 Oyarzún J, Oyarzún R. Sustainable development threats, inter‐sector conflicts and
environmental policy requirements in the arid, mining rich, northern Chile territory.
Sustainable Development. 2011 Jul 1;19(4):263-74.
3 Hilson G. Farming, small-scale mining and rural livelihoods in Sub-Saharan Africa: a
critical overview. The Extractive Industries and Society. 2016 Apr 30;3(2):547-63.

quality or raising environmental awareness which are involved personnel in project. There
will also be flow on effect in future work. In general environmental impact assessment
include benefits as :
the planning and design of a proposal should be in better environment. EIA must carry out an
analysis which has an alternative in the design and location of that project. She may help in
selection of improved technology, that low downs the project which are waste output or at an
environmental location 4. To minimise risk a well-designed project is being considered and it
will impact on people and environment and it can ignore compensation for damage and costs
of healthful treatment5. There is compliance ensured along with environmental standard due
to which there reduction in disruption communities and less damage to environment. It also
reduces the livelihood of fines loss of trust creditability and penalties. They also save their
operating cost and capital. EIA also reduces the undue costs of unexpected impacts. Hence
changes must be done in the project as they are most expensive. It reduces the cost and time
for the approvals of developing application. If all these are taken into consideration properly
before submitting the approved project then it is possible that detail may not occur. These
process is achieved through an open and transparent way, with the additional opportunities
involving people who are directly interested in the proposal in such a way that they suit their
needs. It influences the development and decision making and develops the term and
conditions. There is a modified proposes which reduce the environmental assessment impact.
It also predict such adverse impact. It informs about the potential which has beed affected by
individual and communication 6.
Stages of the EIA process.
These are the stages :
4 Kuma JS, Ewusi E. Water resources issues in Tarkwa municipality, southwest Ghana.
Ghana Mining Journal. 2010;11(1).
5 Van Bockstael S. The persistence of informality: Perspectives on the future of
artisanal mining in Liberia. Futures. 2014 Oct 31;62:10-20.
6 Azcue JM, editor. Environmental impacts of mining activities: emphasis on mitigation
and remedial measures. Springer Science & Business Media; 2012 Dec 6.

 the screening process begins from the start of the project, as the developer comes to
know about need it assess al the possible alternative of the design project and site to
select an alternative.
 When they decide about the formal environmental impact assessment is required the
next stage comes is scoping which tells about the issues and address them about the
impact on the environment and scoping is very important for focusing on the issues
which are relevant.
 From scoping the next comes is baseline study which is importance for collecting
relevant information on the basis of current status and it changing the environment
and can even change the due which can be measured.
 As baseline study information is read and available, tha task begans which is
important that is impact prediction,it involves the prediction of the sightly changes in
the environment which occurs as a result of development.
 The next phrase is impact assessment which requires interpretation of the significant
of the impact to give the conclusion that can used by determining decision making
fate of the project application
 the next step is mitigation which requires to involve or remove all the environmental
impact and may been seen in the environmental impact.
The next after this is producing the statement of the environmental impact which set up the
actual information which are related to development through screening, scoping, baseline,
etc. it gives summary about the information which contains all the information.
 Follow up is related to the post approval period which monitors the impact of the
entire environment management. Without follow up it couldn't be operate. It will be
operated as linear or iterative process. It has main measures which are being
compared: the accurate of the original position, the degree of predictions, and the
reason for any deviation .
Corporate Social responsibility and Environmental Impact assessment
The social responsibilities and environmental impact assessment has a proper human
right protection. These both concept have interlinked now and they are also interdependent.
They have a strong responsibility which has a obvious relationship among the environment

impact. It claims the development about proving and involving safety health and individual.
It is reasonable to claim al the development at expenses which has qualities in human
conditions. Corporate responsibilities concept in which companies has social ans
environmental assessment in which all the stakeholders and voluntary basis emerged the
corporate environmental concept. It signifies the companies commitment by material and
management energy and has a transparent working ecological limit. It is a way in which it
can identify assess the scale and type which impacts the potential and biodiversity and give
an opportunity for benefit conservation. These corporate and social may require month an
years to consider and solve these environmental issues. Once the activity starts it becomes
more difficult to redesign the concept and address its issue biodiversity 7. There are action
plans which are taken into consideration and they apply correct measures and define the
resources and manages all the roles and responsibilities which measures the mitigation. It has
a link between both corporate and social environmental impact assessment 8. All the
monitoring is done through an overlook since it has occurred in the project and has been
approved in it own way. And it is important to provide company the achievement and to
measure it at its place. Three components are considered mainly in environmental assessment
which are closely related to each other and are mutually into re enforcement that are
social,economical and environmental. They have the ability to sustain the issues and resolve
it 9.
Brief history of gold mining in Sierra Leone and Ghana
Ghana having a huge history of mining specially in gold. The trading of gold is
conducted from west Africa to Europe. Gold is the most costly and precious metal in the
world which is find in rivers, seas etc. Further, it is expensive then other metals because it is
difficult to find and harder to get. In modern world, varieties of methods and technologies are
used for mining process of gold in Ghana. The mining operation is mostly conducted in that
place. After mining process to gold they can deliver them in other countries and increase
export of this country. With the help of mining operation country can increase export of gold
7 Bakia M. East Cameroon's artisanal and small-scale mining bonanza: How long will it
last?. Futures. 2014 Oct 31;62:40-50.
8
9

and reduce import which maintain economy of that country. The mining of gold is most
popular in Ghana10.
Mining of gold in Sierra Leone is improve GDP of country with around 4.5%. Mining
of gold in this country is the main reason of instability. The management which is responsible
for mineral sector of country is name called ministry of mineral resources. Through mining of
gold in this country it can deliver them in various countries and improve export from from the
country.
Corporate Social responsibility and Environmental Impact assessment.
Every country is responsible for maintain environmental factors and reduce conflicts
which are related with this. They have to use technologies which may not harm to the
environment. Every country needs to contribute in the sustainable development in the interest
of people. This process is beneficial in health and welfare of the society. So that, countries
like Ghana and Sierra Leone have to use machines and techniques for mining of gold which
may not harm to the environment but maintain health of the people. Various factors having
impact on the environment which is not beneficial people such as machines which increase
pollution, badly affect environment and not help in sustainable development. Before starting
mining operation every country have to make plans and strategies which are in the interest of
people. These plans have to remove complication related to environment. Various types of
conflicts are arise which they have to remove them and increase economy of every country .
CHAPTER 2
Impact on global climate
The mining industry is a challenging sector where it is necessary for them to have a
concrete plan and preparations to adapt the weather, climate and other tough conditions11. It is
evident that the mining sector itself is affected greatly because of the climate change and
simultaneously, it impacts climate of environment. The cited sector is mainly based on
10 Andrews N. Digging for Survival and/or Justice?: The Drivers of Illegal Mining
Activities in Western Ghana. Africa Today. 2015;62(2):2-4.
11 Hilson, G. "The environmental impact of small-scale gold mining in Ghana:
identifying problems and possible solutions." Geographical Journal(2002): 57-72.

energy intensive industry according to which, a substantial amount of energy is used up in the
number of processes taking place in this sector. As per the report of International Council on
Mining and Metals (ICMM) it has been reported that at a global level, the mining and metals
industry contribute about 2% of greenhouse gases emissions. The Department of Mineral and
Energy (DME) of South Africa has told that, this sector uses a high amount of energy which
is equal to 6% of entire energy consumed by South Africa. Besides this, the coal mining
industry of South Africa is also a energy intensive sector that emits a large amount of GHG
which contributes at major level in impacting the climatic conditions. As per the report of
ICMM, various activities of mining industry like processing, transportation, mining, etc. is
based on fuel consumption because of which there is a large use on energy which results in
fugitive emissions from the processes.12 Besides this, the energy usage is also high in the
form of refining and smelting works that uses the electricity. Another issue of increasing
GHG emissions are increasing land use for developing the mining operations. It has been
reported that the rate of deforestation is increasing to a high level because of which the GHG
emitting has become out of control. For mitigating these issues related to increasing GHG can
be developed through better practices of the afforestations and reducing land usage. As a
result of increasing GHG, there is an adverse impact on climatic changes whose impacts are
apparent in South Africa in the form of Desertification, Increasing level of sea, cyclones,
reducing quality of forests, coral bleaching, deforestation and many more. 13
Impact on wildlife
It is a fact that as a result of different mining activities, the forest resources reach to a
destruction level in a great extent. For the mining works, a large part of forest are is made
clear and converted into mining sites, that results in degradation of flaura and fauna in forest.
Besides this, the clearances also result in the erosion of soil, sedimentation etc. Further, due
to increasing land usage by mining industry is resulting into losses of habitats for many wild
animals living in the forests. Forest area covers a large part of biological diversity in which
12 Amponsah-Tawiah, Kwesi, and Kwasi Dartey-Baah. "The mining industry in Ghana:
a blessing or a curse." International Journal of Business and Social Science 2, no. 12 (2011).
13 Wan, Pei Man Jessica. "Environmental justices and injustices of large-scale gold
mining in Ghana: A study of three communities near Obuasi." The Extractive Industries and
Society 1, no. 1 (2014): 38-47.

diverse animal life involving terrestrial, aquatic and marine life. It is also well known that
Africa has the deep forests which is a home for many rare species of world. Because of this
uniqueness in the forest and wildlife of Africa, it is required to preserve them. But with
increasing land usage for mining has resulted into its degradations making many things
vulnerable to extinctions. The life of people are largely impacted by the biodiversity and
ecosystem of a place. The mining has various activities of constructions, transportation of
different materials, separation of and preparation work, exploration etc. which results in loss
of biodiversity. The impact of this loss is increasing with a greater intensity because of which
the wildlife is at risk. 14
As per these effects, country must have the policies and legal implications as well
which can help in restriction of mining practices nearby any sensitive areas like forests,
wildlife sanctuaries, heritage places etc. Moreover, the loss of biodiversity and wildlife is
resulting into many negative impacts that has given substantial losses.
Impact of ecological processes
The ecological process is related to the ecosystem under which four basic processes
take place like water cycle, nutrient cycle, energy flow and community dynamics. For the
purpose of mining in lands, a lot of vegetation is removed and soil erosion takes place
because of which the land may become barren. Further, this process also results in
interruption of ecological processes. Because of the activities related to mining, a number of
toxic wastes are generated which leads to water pollution and other health problems.15 In the
areas of mining, a lot of dirt is generated due to various processes which results into heavy air
pollution. It is apparent that due to increasing demand of gold and heavy increase in its costs
have attracted the miners in the last decades. In mining of gold, various toxic chemicals are
used which has a very negative impact on delicate tropical ecological processes. Gold mining
14 Boamponsem, L. K., J. I. Adam, S. B. Dampare, B. J. B. Nyarko, and D. K.
Essumang. "Assessment of atmospheric heavy metal deposition in the Tarkwa gold mining
area of Ghana using epiphytic lichens." Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics
Research Section B: Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms 268, no. 9 (2010): 1492-
1501.
15 Hilson, Gavin. "‘Once a miner, always a miner’: Poverty and livelihood
diversification in Akwatia, Ghana." Journal of Rural Studies 26, no. 3 (2010): 296-307.

in Ghana has contributed in the development of its economy. But on other hand, it has
impacted largely to a number of factors like environment, water cycle, forest life and also the
life of humans.
In mining of gold which is done in Sierra Leone emits a lot of chemicals and bio
wastages like cyanide, Arsenic, dust which is released from Bauxite and other types of noise
pollution. The major pollutant that is released in gold mining is mercury which is used at a
large scale for increasing the recovery rates and to make the alloy of mercury-gold16. These
pollutants are harmful for water and air as these wastages contaminates the water, soil and
entire environment. Thus, whole ecological process is disturbed and increases various types
of risks. It is necessary to make a classification of different hazards so that different types of
risks can be minimised. In addition to this, the actions must be taken by government to
minimise the impact which is resulting in loss of ecological processes.
Social impacts
The minings taking place in Sierra Leone have a considerable impact on the socio-
economic and socio-cultural environment apart from various physical and ecological impacts.
The social impacts include variety of issues like health related problems, usage of drugs,
conflicts etc.17 In context of health issues, it is evident that different types of pollutants which
exist in the liquid or gaseous form pose a great challenge by increasing the risks related to
health and safety. From various reports, it has been found that at the time of gold mining, dust
particles containing silica produces which are harmful for the health of people employed in
the mines. It can cause serious diseases of asthma or other respiratory related diseases. In
addition to this, it has been found that many miners use six tons of mercury yearly because of
which, it results in the serious issues of health for all mining communities. Further, many of
the miners mix the mercury with water to raise its quantity, that leads to more harmful results
for both people and plants.
16 Hilson, Gavin. "Child labour in African artisanal mining communities: Experiences
from Northern Ghana." Development and Change 41, no. 3 (2010): 445-473.
17 Azcue, José M., ed. Environmental impacts of mining activities: emphasis on
mitigation and remedial measures. Springer Science & Business Media, 2012.