The government of Ghana has revealed plans to invest about US$100 million in the small scale gold mining sector in the next five years. This was disclosed by the Minister of Finance Ken Ofori-Atta in the 2024 budget statement and economic policy presented to the Parliament of Ghana on Wednesday November 15, 2023. According to […]
Embrace GoldKacha technology for environmental sustainability – small-scale miners urged
Small-scale miners have been urged to adopt the mercury-free rock processing technology known as GoldKacha, so as to mitigate the negative environmental impacts associated with traditional mining methods. The call comes as illegal mining activities have begun to take a toll on the environment, posing risks to both citizens and ecosystems. The GoldKacha technology, introduced […]
Mercury-Free Mining: A Sustainable Solution for Artisanal and Small scale Mining
For many years, the operations of artisanal small scale miners have been heavily dependent on mercury as the main method for gold recovery and has left extensive levels of the chemical (mercury) in the environment through the dumping and washing away of tailings in the water bodies and soil. The Artisanal Small scale Gold Mining […]
Solidaridad and Pact support six artisanal and small scale mines with mercury-free gold processing equipment
The use of mercury to recover gold is a common practice amongst artisanal and small scale miners making the sector the largest mercury polluter in the world. Artisanal and small scale gold miners depend on mercury to amalgamate gold, which is a process where the mercury is combined (mixed with the hand) with the ore […]
The Artisanal Small Scale Gold Mining sector is the largest Mercury Polluter in the World
In its recent advisory on Africa’s gold sector, the US State Department has bemoaned the increasing use of mercury in ASGM despite the existence of mercury-free gold recovery methods and projects that seek to reduce the use of mercury in ASGM. According to the agency, the artisanal and small scale gold mining (ASGM) sector is […]
How changes in the small-scale mining sector are impacting the environment
The value of Ghana’s gold export receipts for 2022 alone is estimated to be US$ 6.6 billion. Meanwhile, the revenue accrued declined from US$ 6.779 billion in 2020 to US$ 5.083 billion in 2021. This was attributed to the contraction in gold production, particularly the near-collapse in the volume of gold exports by the small-scale […]
Mercury-free mining technology introduced to fight galamsey
Mercury-free mining technology introduced to fight galamsey To bolster the fight against illegal mining, which has become a national canker and raised serious concerns about pollution of rivers in mining areas, a new mineral processing technology has been introduced by a Ghanaian company to promote sustainable mining. The mineral processing technology ensures a cleaner gold […]
Having a mining licence alone does not imply responsible mining: Effective regulation needed to enforce responsible mining practices
Having a mining licence alone does not imply responsible mining: Effective regulation needed to enforce responsible mining practices As enshrined in the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703) (now amended Minerals and Mining Act 2019, Act 995), obtaining a mining licence granted by the Minister responsible for mining based on recommendations of the Minerals […]
Appropriate technology key to responsible mining – Commodity Monitor CEO
Appropriate technology key to responsible mining – Commodity Monitor CEO The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Commodity Monitor Ltd, Stephen Yeboah, has called for the application of efficient and appropriate technology in the small-scale mining sector to promote responsible mining. He said small-scale mining was not bad, but the irresponsible manner in which some miners […]
Changing the status quo in Ghana’s mining sector
The artisanal and small scale mining (ASM) subsector in particular has contributed significantly to the overall economic gains Ghana has had from mining. Currently, the ASM subsector contributes about 39% (1.6 million ounce) of the total gold production in Ghana. It contributes significantly to foreign exchange earnings, generates both direct and indirect employment for many […]