Environmental Safety and Sustainability in Ghana’s Gold Mining Sector

Abstract

The practice of gold mining is seeing remarkable growth and has emerged as a significant source of income for a large number of inhabitants in the geographical regions where it is carried out. However, despite the recognition of this potential, the process of extracting gold presents several challenges for everyone involved, with the safety and well-being of miners being particularly precarious. Our study aims to examine the occupational safety and health (OSH) practices utilised in Ghana's precious metals mines to provide valuable information to important stakeholders and authorities. Overall, the findings offer a comprehensive analysis of the welfare issues faced by individuals in Ghanaian gold mining communities. The foundation of our study is rooted in both theoretical and empirical investigations. We utilised a statistical methodology to sample all 110 individuals that participated in our survey. Through the implementation of a case study, we apply regression analysis and descriptive statistics to investigate the correlations among the variables and ascertain the strategies utilised to achieve a harmonious equilibrium between security, financial prosperity, and environmental sustainability. Our investigation uncovered a lack of Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) supervision of various systems. The main causes of crashes were identified as mechanical, physical, chemical, biological, auditory, ergonomic, and mental risk factors. This results in injuries, deaths, and instances of employees being absent from work. Furthermore, our study lacked references to the absence of occupational safety and health (OSH) regulations and protocols aimed at improving the extraction of precious metals. Our studies also examine the governance of the precious metals extraction project in Ghana, including its impact on the landscape, economic prosperity, and ecological stewardship. The findings indicate that there are instances of non-compliance with occupational safety and health regulations in the gold mining sector within the research region. Hence, the inquiry proposes achieving a harmonious equilibrium among safeguarding, financial prosperity, and sustainable growth. Attaining workplace health and safety requirements, boosting Ghana's economic output, and ensuring the longevity of the environment can be achieved by increasing the use of protective clothing and regularly incorporating aerial photography into governmental evaluations of gold extraction operations.