Assessing the Environmental and Socio-Economic Impacts of Artisanal Gold Mining on the Livelihoods of Communities in the Tarkwa Nsuaem Municipality in Ghana

Abstract

Gold mining has played an important role in Ghana’s economy, however the negative environmental and socio-economic effects on the host communities associated with gold mining have overshadowed these economic gains. It is within this context that this paper assessed in an integrated manner the environmental and socio-economic impacts of artisanal gold mining in the Tarkwa Nsuaem Municipality from a natural and social science perspective. The natural science group collected 200 random samples on bi-weekly basis between January to October 2013 from water bodies in the study area for analysis in line with methods outlined by the American Water Works Association, while the social science team interviewed 250 residents randomly selected for interviews on socio-economic issues associated with mining. Data from the socio-economic survey was analyzed using logistic regression with SPSS version 17. The results of the natural science investigation revealed that the levels of heavy metals in water samples from the study area in most cases exceeded GS 175-1/WHO permissible guideline values, which are in tandem with the results of inhabitants’ perceptions of water quality survey (as 83% of the respondents are of the view that water bodies in the study area are polluted). This calls for cost-benefits analysis of mining before new mining leases are granted by the relevant authorities.

Rural Households’ Livelihood Capital, Risk Perception, and Willingness to Purchase Earthquake Disaster Insurance: Evidence from Southwestern China

“…The measurement of rural households’ livelihood capital was based on the sustainable livelihoods analysis framework from the Department for International Development (DFID); the livelihood capital was divided into human capital, natural capital, social capital, financial capital, and physical capital. With consideration to the research of the authors of [ 1 , 2 , 8 , 10 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 ], together with the actual situation in the study area, the above five types of livelihood capital were measured with different detailed variables ( Table 2 ). Finally, consistent with the research of Peng et al [ 8 ], the entropy method was used to deal with the variables in Table 2 , and finally, an objective value for the five types of livelihood capital of rural households was obtained (for a detailed introduction to the entropy method please see Peng et al [ 8 ] and Appendix A ).…”

The impact of industrial activities on vector-borne disease transmission

“…This outcome is similar to trends seen in agricultural settlements: recently arrived settlers, usually located closer to the deforestation imprints of side roads, may be more exposed to malaria because of their proximity to the forest fringes where larvae are dense, but as deforestation progresses, transmission decreases (Barros and Honório, 2015). The development of formal industrial activities such as large mine sites has the potential to greatly affect the socioeconomic profile of previously isolated, less populated rural districts (Kitula, 2006;Obiri et al, 2016;Wilson et al, 2015). In addition to an open pit mine and processing plant, an entire infrastructure base may be created that can include an airstrip, multiple access roads, maintenance and administrative facilities, and new residential settlements for the workforce and their families.…”

Ретроспективний Аналіз Та Перспективи Функціонування Світового Ринку Золота

“…Спочатку це були монети, які карбували не з золота, але на них був присутній символ держави, яке емітувало їх в обіг. Після досить тривалої еволюції замінників повноцінних золотих грошей з'являються паперові гроші, які фактично, будучи позбавленими внутрішньої вартості, виступають саме як знак вартості, який визнається всіма учасниками економічних відносин [5].…”