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Mining activities accelerate the rate and degree of changes in the natural environment. These activities modify landscapes and can have long-term pollution impacts on communities and water resources due to their physical degrading nature, as well as their use of chemicals and other harmful substances. This study carried out by Department of Energy and Environmental Engineering of the University of Energy and Natural Resources therefore sought to assess the role of Newmont Akyem towards affecting the various water bodies in Akyem District. Qualitative and quantitative comparative methods were used for gathering data and performing analysis. The findings indicated that the physico-chemical parameters tested for the water bodies were all within the EPA, Ghana standards for drinking water except for the Pra River which recorded high levels of TSS indicating that there was, possibly, illegal mining activities upstream affecting the quality of the water. The study recommends that government provides both training and equipment to support small scale miners to avoid illegal mining. Also mining companies should contribute towards developing alternative livelihood for communities on whose lands they occupy. EPA should enforce environmental laws to protect the water bodies and the environment.

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Scrap metals can create jobs. It can also be reused and recycled as resource recovery measure in a circular economic model for Ghana. This case study therefore is a preliminary assessment of the quantity and economic value of scrap metals as essential part of resource recovery in the circular economic model. The findings of the study shows that scrap metal industry is growing in the Sunyani Municipality and similar trend is likely in other cities in Ghana as well. The most abundant of the metals found was aluminum while copper was most expensive. Though sales of the scrap was profitable, it was done on monthly basis owing to low rate of volume of scrap realized by the owners. Much of the scrap was dumped at various waste dumping sites in the municipality, thus raising concerns about lack of knowledge of residents about the profitability and recovery values of scrap metals in the circular models. As a result, this could lead to environmental pollution, inefficient resource utilization and energy uses. Therefore, proper education, policy and regulatory measures are key recommendations to prevent these and encourage uses of scrap metals in the circular economy of Ghana. Also, it is recommended that transfer, recycling and foundry stations should be built to prevent high transportation cost due to long haulage distance to final destination points of sales and recycling or reuses.

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