Illegal small-scale mining (galamsey) in Ghana: environmental pollution and remediation approaches-a review.
Konadu Amoah B, Kwaw AK, Adam AB, Kazapoe RW, Osei-Owusu BA
Phytoremediation
Rivers flowing through Ghana's farming regions are now laced with mining chemicals, meaning the cocoa, cassava, and vegetables grown downstream may be accumulating heavy metals before they reach global supply chains and your kitchen.
Illegal gold miners in Ghana have been cutting down forests and dumping toxic waste into rivers and soil for years. Researchers reviewed all the damage this causes and found that certain plants can actually draw heavy metals and poisons out of contaminated ground—a natural cleanup process that costs far less than industrial methods. This gives communities a real, local tool for healing land that was once too toxic to farm.
Key Findings
Galamsey has polluted five major rivers (Pra, Birim, Ankobra, Tano, and Offin), with chemical contamination and high turbidity dominating water bodies in Southern Ghana.
Northern Ghana faces severe soil degradation and heightened desertification risk from illegal mining activity.
Phytoremediation and sorption are the most widely tested remediation techniques in galamsey-polluted environments, offering low-cost, locally applicable solutions.
chevron_right Technical Summary
A review of illegal gold mining (galamsey) in Ghana finds widespread destruction of forests, rivers, and farmland, while highlighting phytoremediation—using plants to absorb heavy metals and toxins—as one of the most promising and affordable cleanup strategies for poisoned soils and waterways.
Abstract Preview
Illegal small-scale mining (galamsey) is a vital source of livelihood in Ghana. Its contribution to Ghana's national gold production is significant. However, galamsey is associated with many enviro...
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