An Integrated Assessment Approach to Address Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining in Ghana

Abstract

Artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) is growing in many regions of the world including Ghana. The problems in these communities are complex and multi-faceted. To help increase understanding of such problems, and to enable consensus-building and effective translation of scientific findings to stakeholders, help inform policies, and ultimately improve decision making, we utilized an Integrated Assessment approach to study artisanal and small-scale gold mining activities in Ghana. Though Integrated Assessments have been used in the fields of environmental science and sustainable development, their use in addressing specific matter in public health, and in particular, environmental and occupational health is quite limited despite their many benefits. The aim of the current paper was to describe specific activities undertaken and how they were organized, and the outputs and outcomes of our activity. In brief, three disciplinary workgroups (Natural Sciences, Human Health, Social Sciences and Economics) were formed, with 26 researchers from a range of Ghanaian institutions plus international experts. The workgroups conducted activities in order to address the following question: What are the causes, consequences and correctives of small-scale gold mining in Ghana? More specifically: What alternatives are available in resource-limited settings in Ghana that allow for gold-mining to occur in a manner that maintains ecological health and human health without hindering near- and long-term economic prosperity? Several response options were identified and evaluated, and are currently being disseminated to various stakeholders within Ghana and internationally.

Pulmonary function and respiratory health of rural farmers and artisanal and small scale gold miners in Ghana

“…Within the country ASGM accounts for 10.5% of Ghana’s national gold production and employs between 500,000 and 1 million people mostly in rural areas (Basu, 2015b). Since 2009, our research team has conducted field studies to examine associations between a range of exposures and health outcomes in ASGM communities in the Talensi-Nabdam District of Ghana’s Upper East Region (Paruchuri et al, 2010; Basu et al, 2011; Renne et al, 2011, Long et al 2015, Long et al 2013, Rajaee et al 2015b, Rajaee et al 2015c).…”

Identification of Response Options to Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining (ASGM) in Ghana via the Delphi Process

“…Also, the National Development Planning Commission (which reports to President of Ghana) has recently identified ASGM as a sector of major economic, social and national security concern that thus demands rapid policy action. The results of this Integrated Assessment [ 15 ] and identification of response/policy options via Delphi polling (current paper) were shared with representatives of the aforementioned programs, and other stakeholders.…”

“…Similar to the article cited above, our study did not seek to make future predictions, but rather serve as a means of identifying and prioritizing future actions to address the social, economic, health and environmental effects of artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) in Ghana. Current policies regarding ASGM are insufficient, and there is urgent need in Ghana for determining national responses in terms of policy, legislation and interventions, which the Delphi poll aimed to clarify [ 15 ]. The goal was to select a handful of areas in which future study can be directed by assessing expert opinion on the subject, with the hope of shaping government policies on the issue.…”

“…As part of a three-year grant-funded project [ 15 ], participants involved with research or with experience on ASGM-related issues were selected from academia, government entities, and NGOs both from Ghana (n = 17) and North America (n = 10). Upon selection participants were organized into three working groups based on their area of expertise (Human Health, Natural Sciences and Social Sciences and Economics), with some individuals taking part in multiple working groups [ 16 , 17 , 18 ].…”

“…Unlike other studies we reviewed that used the Delphi method, the working group members were involved in the construction of the poll itself, democratizing control of the survey and increasing participant involvement. Using an Integrated Assessment approach [ 15 ], working group members had been collaborating for several months on discipline-specific reports summarizing extant and emerging research on ASGM-related issues [ 16 , 17 , 18 ] being published in this special issue of the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ( ). In the final section of these reports, they drafted possible “response options” or actions to address the social, economic, health and environmental issues associated with ASGM.…”