Awareness of Residents in Small-scale Mining Communities on the Perceived Environmental Impact of Small-scale Mining: A Case of Amansie West District in Ashanti Region of Ghana.

Abstract

This paper employed cross-sectional survey research design to examine the awareness of residents in small-scale mining communities on the perceived environmental impacts of small-scale mining, with particular emphasis on Amansie West District in Ashanti region of Ghana. Awareness is not only necessary predisposing factor for behavioural change but that knowledge can also dramatically improve attitude, misconception and consequently enhance small-scale mining practices. To achieve this objective, the investigator relies on information collected both quantitatively and qualitatively through in-depth interviews and questionnaires administration with 60 household heads sampled in stratified communities; based on common characteristics within small-scale mining communities in Amansie West District, coupled with documented data from published and unpublished articles. The study not only identify an inexplicably higher number of residents in the District engaged in small-scale mining but also realized that, 91.7 percent of the household heads sampled mentioned that the small-scale mining operations have had varied impacts on their environment, especially, their lands which are regarded as key element of physical capital in livelihood strategies for the dwellers in the (small-scale mining) communities. The residents however, showed awareness of varied degrees of potential health risks of small-scale mining activities in their respective communities. Although mitigation efforts have had limited impacts; it is expected that the policy recommendations in this paper if adopted and strictly adhere to will help reduce, if not completely ameliorate the environmental ramification of small-scale mining in Ghana.

Key Words: Awareness, Environmental impact, Small-scale mining, Sustainable development