Background: Many years of gold mining in Ghana has generated huge environmental legacy issues, particularly contamination from heavy metals and metalloids. The present study evaluated the contamination from arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), mercury (Hg) and lead (Pb) in sediment cores at Bibiani, a historical gold mining town in Ghana. The study took a retrospective look at these contaminations by conducting sediment core analysis of heavy metals in sediments collected from Lake Amponsah in the Bibiani district. Sediment cores were sampled to a depth of 30 cm. Results:The Lake was found to be undergoing sedimentation at an average rate of 1.76 cm/y. There was marginal decline in Hg concentrations over the past two decades (from the 1990s to 2010s), while the other metals showed relatively increasing trends. The Hg policy restricting Hg usage in Ghana since 1989 has contributed to the recent marginal decline of Hg in the sediment. It was found that small-scale miners illicitly applied Hg but used crude retrofits to recover some of the Hg during the gold amalgamation process. This perhaps contributed to the marginal decline being observed in the sediment compartment with depth. Nevertheless, there was concern of potential risk of exposure to gaseous Hg during the amalgamation process. Conclusion:Based on findings of this study, Hg legislation in Ghana should be enforced to the latter as it has shown good sign of reducing environmental contamination from this metal.
This paper assesses the level of interest, awareness, and adoption of ISO 14001 and Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification schemes among logging companies in Cameroon. Eleven logging companies located in Douala in the Littoral Region of Cameroon were assessed through a structured interview using an administered questionnaire which was mostly analyzed qualitatively thereafter. The findings indicated that none of the companies was certified for ISO 14001; however 63.64% of them were already FSC-certified. Four companies (36.36%) were neither FSC- nor ISO 14001 EMS-certified. Among the factors found to influence the adoption rate was the level of awareness about ISO 14001 and FSC certification schemes. The main drivers for pursuing FSC certification were easy penetration into international markets, tax holiday benefits, and enhancement of corporate image of the logging companies through corporate social responsibility fulfillments. Poor domestic market for certified products was found to be the major impediment to get certified. To make logging activities more environmentally friendly and socially acceptable, logging companies should be encouraged to get certified through the ISO 14001 EMS scheme which is almost nonexistent so far. This requires awareness creation about the scheme, encouraging domestic markets for certified products and creating policy incentives.
This article critically reviews the socio-economic and environmental performance of large-scale logging companies operating in countries endowed with the dense tropical rainforest of the Congo Basin in Central Africa and offers possible solutions to problems identified. After independence, these countries formulated a series of strategies to attract foreign investment in the large-scale logging industry. Recently, while a plethora of policies and regulations have been designed to advance sustainable forest management in these countries, the sustainability of this industry has been brought into question in light of the impoverish state of local forest-dependent communities. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to examine the regulatory framework of this industry in the developing world, as well as assess their performance with a particular focus on six countries where the forests of the Congo Basin are concentrated in Central Africa.Keywords: socio-economic and environmental performance, large-scale loggingcompanies, dense tropical rainforest, Congo Basin, Central Africa IntroductionThe policy of trade liberalization in many countries endowed with the dense tropical rainforest of the Congo Basin has created enormous opportunities for large-scale logging companies (concessionaires). Soon after independence in the early sixties, most of these countries instituted favorable policies and tax reduction schemes to attract foreign investment. As a result, timber production and other related forest products by large-scale logging companies have grown rapidly in these countries. These companies are expected to contribute to the socio-economic development of local communities in which they operate and promote sound environmental management practices. The objective of this paper is to examine the outcomes of corporate social responsibility and environmental management initiatives formulated by large-scale logging companies operating in countries endowed with the forests of the Congo Basin. The paper proceeds as follows. In the next section, we provide fundamental background information to the problem by describing the general regulatory framework of the less developed world vis-à-vis large-scale logging companies. The performance of these companies in six countries which are home to the forests of the Congo Basin is then examined. In the penultimate section, we proffer possible solutions to problems identified and conclude with a brief discussion of the salient points.
The effects of small-scale gold mining activities on heavy metal levels in groundwater were determined for the Lower Pra Basin of Ghana. Sixty five boreholes in 45 communities were analysed between January 2012 and April 2012 for the dry season and June and October 2012 for the wet season. The test for significance and the use of cluster analysis, a multivariate approach, clearly delineate Cu, Zn, Cd and Hg as possible anthropogenic contributors, whilst As, Se and Pb could be both anthropogenic and natural geochemical process contributors of metal level concentrations in the groundwater. The analysis shows generally low pH values in the basin with more than 95% of dry season and almost all wet season values being acidic or slightly acidic. Approximately 35% of boreholes in the wet season recorded values for cadmium above WHO guideline value of 3.0 µg/l with almost all dry season values falling below 3.0 µg/l except for two boreholes. Generally, high values were recorded for iron, manganese, lead, Al and Hg. In general, lead, copper, cadmium and manganese showed higher wet season values than dry season suggesting anthropogenic influence.
The study assessed the impact of an operating Tailings Storage Facility (TSF) of Adamus Resources Limited (Nzema Gold Mine) in the Ellembele District of the Western of Ghana on catchment surface and groundwater quality. Water samples were collected between June and December 2014 from seventeen (17) sampling sites including the TSF decant water (TSF-DW), three (3) streams, a water storage dam, a pond and eleven (11) groundwater monitoring boreholes within 500 m radius of the mine's Tailings Storage Facility. Samples were analyzed for pH, true colour, electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), total suspended solids (TSS), biological oxygen demand (BOD), dissolved metals (arsenic, cadmium, copper, mercury) and cyanide (weak acid dissociable cyanide (WAD), free cyanide and total cyanide) using standard procedures. The TSF-DW reported elevated arsenic, free cyanide and TSS concentrations above GHEPA guideline for effluent discharge. Elevated TSS and arsenic concentrations above GHEPA limits were reported in PWSD which is a pond uphill of the TSF and a receptor to effluents from illegal mining sites on the mine's concession. All other parameters recorded in surface and groundwater bodies studied were within WHO guideline limit for potable water. Results of the study suggest that the quality of surface and groundwater around the TSF has not been adversely affected even though the TSF is contaminated. Study findings suggest that well-engineered tailings dam ofARLwith its effective liner and management systems may have provided a safe structure and prevented contamination of water resources within its catchment.
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