The town of Tarkwa in Ghana’s Western Region offers a vivid portrayal of the country’s illegal gold mining boom. Gold is everywhere — embedded in the forest, beneath the streets, and deep within the economy of this mining town. Yet the glittering promise of wealth is underscored by the environmental devastation and political upheaval that has come with it. As the 2024 national elections approach, the illegal gold rush is not just an economic issue but a political flashpoint that exposes the risks facing the government and its handling of the mining sector.
Tarkwa: The Epicenter of Ghana’s Gold Rush
Tarkwa, home to some of Ghana’s largest gold reserves, stands as a testament to the country’s gold wealth. Yet the town is increasingly marked by the environmental degradation caused by illegal gold mining activities. Unregulated mining pits scar the landscape, and polluted rivers near the town are a direct consequence of the expanding semi-industrial scale of mining operations.
These illegal gold mining activities — collectively known as “galamsey” — are responsible for large-scale environmental damage. Streams once vital to the community now run contaminated with heavy metals, and deforestation is rampant. In response to the worsening crisis, civil society groups in Accra have intensified calls for a ban on small-scale mining operations, particularly in regions like Tarkwa.
Political Tensions Escalate Ahead of Elections
The gold rush in Tarkwa has become more than an environmental issue; it is now a significant political challenge ahead of Ghana’s December 7 national elections. The governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), led by President Nana Akufo-Addo, faces mounting pressure to address the environmental toll of illegal mining while balancing the livelihoods of over a million Ghanaians who depend on the sector for their income.
At the center of the controversy is George Mireku Duker, the deputy minister of mining and a local legislator in Tarkwa. Duker’s constituency, Tarkwa-Nsuaem, is a major center of small-scale mining, and the upcoming elections could be determined by how effectively he handles the growing crisis.
Duker, who won his seat by a narrow margin in the 2020 elections, finds himself caught between the demands of Accra’s urban elite, who are calling for a crackdown on illegal mining, and the needs of his constituents, many of whom rely on the industry for their livelihoods. The deputy minister recently visited mining sites in Tarkwa where he expressed his support for small-scale miners despite the environmental concerns. “In Accra, they want to ban you, but I’m here to tell you that I support miners,” Duker assured local mining operators during his October visit.
However, Duker’s words also reflect the precarious political situation he faces. “The small-scale mining sector employs more than 1 million Ghanaians, while large-scale mines employ less than 10,000,” Duker explained. “You want to take their livelihood from them?”
Small-Scale Mining: The Double-Edged Sword
The small-scale mining sector, which is largely informal and unregulated, has grown exponentially over the past decade. In 2023, artisanal and small-scale miners (ASM) produced more than a quarter of the 4 million ounces of gold officially mined in Ghana — a market worth an estimated $10.6 billion at current prices. This marks a significant increase from 2012 when ASM operations accounted for only 10% of the country’s gold production.
These mining operations, typically smaller than 25 acres, are mostly artisanal in nature but have become semi-industrialized in recent years due to the introduction of heavy machinery and a lack of effective regulation. The rapid expansion of the sector has been fueled by soaring global gold prices, which reached a record high of $2,787 per ounce in October 2023, up more than 30% from the beginning of the year. This surge in gold prices has attracted not only local miners but also international buyers, with Dubai being a prominent market for illicitly sourced gold.
Despite their importance to the local economy, these small-scale mining operations are a major environmental liability. Wastewater runoff from gold-processing activities has contaminated local rivers, and illegal deforestation for mining purposes is eroding the region’s natural resources. Many of the miners in Tarkwa work in hazardous conditions, using toxic chemicals like mercury and cyanide in their extraction processes. However, the economic desperation in the region means that many miners turn a blind eye to the dangers they face in the pursuit of gold.
The Divide Between Legal and Illegal Mining
The line between legal and illegal mining operations in Tarkwa is often blurred. Although some miners operate with licenses, many fail to comply with the regulations governing mining activities, such as maintaining proper environmental safeguards or limiting their mining areas to the prescribed 25 acres. “A lot of people do have a license, but their operations don’t conform with what the law asks them to do,” explains Ishmael Quaicoe, head of the environmental and safety engineering department at Tarkwa’s University of Mines and Technology.
The absence of effective oversight allows illegal miners to flourish alongside those operating within the law, further complicating efforts to regulate the sector. Moreover, corruption within the system has made enforcement of mining regulations even more difficult, as some local officials and law enforcement agents turn a blind eye to illegal operations in exchange for bribes.
The Protests: Environmental and Political Consequences
As the environmental damage caused by galamsey becomes more severe, the protests against illegal mining have intensified. Demonstrations in Accra in September and October, spearheaded by environmental and labor groups, have garnered widespread attention. The Trades Union Congress (TUC), which represents workers across various sectors, has thrown its weight behind calls for an outright ban on all small-scale mining.
A major concern voiced by protesters is the contamination of water sources. The Ghana Water Company reported in August that 60% of the raw water it treated was affected by illegal mining activities. The mining operations are also contributing to the destruction of forests, which directly impacts cocoa production, a vital industry for Ghana’s economy.
Despite the public outcry, the NPP government has been hesitant to take drastic action, given the political consequences. In response to the protests, President Akufo-Addo announced that the government would deploy soldiers to mining areas to crack down on illegal mining. This move, however, echoes a similar action taken in 2017 when a nationwide ban on ASM operations was imposed. The ban, which lasted for about two years, was widely criticized for its ineffectiveness and its adverse impact on local miners.
The government’s heavy-handed approach to galamsey has led to political fallout. In the 2020 elections, the NPP’s decision to shut down illegal mining operations was cited as a factor in the party losing its parliamentary majority. With elections approaching again, the NPP is cautious about alienating the more than 4.5 million Ghanaians who rely on gold mining for their livelihoods.
The Political Economy of Mining
For many in Tarkwa-Nsuaem, the gold rush represents both opportunity and desperation. The region, despite its gold wealth, is plagued by high levels of poverty, with nearly 20% of the population living in acute deprivation, according to the Ghana Statistical Service. Many young people, with limited access to education or formal employment opportunities, are drawn to the ASM sector for its promise of quick cash, albeit at the cost of their health and safety.
Elorm Ama Governor-Ababio, an activist who was arrested during a protest against illegal mining in Accra, argues that the government’s failure to provide alternatives to mining has led to the widespread reliance on the sector. “They are already dying from poverty so they don’t hear you when you talk about the dangers of mercury or cyanide,” Governor-Ababio says. “You put them through so much trauma that when they see a literal threat to their life, they see it as a beacon of hope.”
Conclusion: A Political Crossroads
As Ghana heads toward its December elections, the illegal gold rush in Tarkwa and other mining areas presents a dilemma for the government. On one hand, the NPP is under pressure to address the environmental consequences of galamsey, while on the other, it must protect the livelihoods of millions of Ghanaians who depend on the mining sector.
The future of small-scale mining in Ghana is uncertain, but one thing is clear: the intersection of environmental concerns, political calculations, and economic realities will shape the outcome of the upcoming elections. How the government navigates the challenges of illegal mining and its broader impact on the country’s future remains to be seen.
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