Gavin Hilson

An overview of land use conflicts in mining communities

Abstract This article examines the causes and impacts of land use conflicts between large-scale mines and community groups, and identifies a series of (land use) conflict resolution strategies for mine management. It is becoming increasingly challenging for mines, which demand a significant amount of area to operate, to coexist with the indigenous people of surrounding communities who depend largely upon the land for their livelihoods. The article contends, however, that most of the unavoidable environmental problems that occur at sites—namely erosion, sedimentation and vegetation removal—are largely dismissed by locals, but that poor communications and highly preventable environmental accidents have been, and continue to be, the chief causes of intense land use disputes between mines and surrounding communities. As governmental intervention is often miniscule, most of the responsibility rests with mine management to ensure that land use conflicts are effectively prevented and resolved. Whilst no de facto strategy exists that will completely satisfy both parties, quite conceivably, compromises can be reached if: community consultation between the parties is significantly improved; regional governments assume a leadership role in coordinating the efforts of international agencies; appropriate compensation packages are provided to impacted communities; and partnerships are forged between large- and small-scale miners.

Sustainable development in the mining industry: clarifying the corporate perspective

Abstract This paper examines sustainable development in the corporate mining context, and provides some guidelines for mining companies seeking to operate more sustainably. There is now a burgeoning literature that examines sustainable development in the context of minerals and mining, most of which is concerned with sustainability at global and national scales. What is often challenging to ascertain, however, from these numerous perspectives on sustainable mineral extraction, minerals and metals recycling, environmental management, and social performance, is how sustainable development applies to mining companies themselves, and what steps a mine must take in order to improve the sustainability of operations. Since mining processes have the potential to impact a diverse group of environmental entities, and are of interest to a wide range of stakeholder groups, there is ample opportunity for the industry to operate more sustainably. Specifically, with improved planning, implementation of sound environmental management tools and cleaner technologies, extended social responsibility to stakeholder groups, the formation of sustainability partnerships, and improved training, a mine can improve performance in both the environmental and socioeconomic arenas, and thus contribute enormously to sustainable development at the mine level.

Harvesting mineral riches: 1000 years of gold mining in Ghana

Abstract This paper provides a concise historical account of gold mining in Ghana, from the pre-colonial period, through to the present. For over 1000 years, the Ancient Kingdom of Ghana, the former Gold Coast Colony, and present-day Ghana, have produced a substantial portion of the world’s gold. Initially frequented by Arab traders who had crossed vast stretches of the Sahara, the trading routes of the Ancient Kingdom of Ghana had stimulated significant conflict among groups, in particular, the Europeans, who, for centuries, battled for control of the West African gold monopoly. The region’s first gold mining companies were formed shortly after the British established the Gold Coast Colony in 1874, and, following two successive gold rushes in the early-1900s, gold prospecting and extraction were widespread in Obuasi, Tarkwa and Prestea. However, the industry soon entered a period of depressed production, which began at the time of country independence in 1957, and ended shortly after implementation of the country’s Economic Recovery (ERP) Plan in 1983. The Ghanaian gold mining industry has since grown rapidly, supplanting cocoa cultivation as the country’s chief economic activity. In the past 20 years, production increases in the order of 700% have been achieved, and today, output from resident gold mines accounts for some 37% of national exports and 97% of mineral exports.

Are Alternative Livelihood Projects Alleviating Poverty in Mining Communities? Experiences from Ghana

Abstract This paper critiques the approach being taken in Ghana to implement Alternative Livelihood (AL) projects in mining communities. The rapid insurgence of illegal artisanal gold mining has forced policymakers to think more creatively about ways in which to deal with mounting unemployment in the countrys rural areas. Most of the economic activities being promoted, however, have proved highly unpopular with target groups. The adopted policy approaches reflect how little in tune the organisations championing AL activities are with the mindsets and ambitions of rural populations.

Small‐scale mining and its socio‐economic impact in developing countries

This article examines both the positive and negative socio-economic impacts of small-scale mining in developing countries, and outlines some key measures for improving sustainability in the sector. It is important to clarify that, in spite of experiencing its share of environmental- and health-related problems that adversely impact human quality-of-life, small-scale mining plays a pivotal role in alleviating poverty in the developing world, and contributes significantly to national revenues and foreign exchange earnings. Though these important socio-economic contributions make small-scale mining an indispensable economic activity, there is an obvious need for improved sustainability in the industry, more specifically, for operations to resolve pressing problems, many of which have wide-ranging impacts. However, because most small-scale mines are low-tech and employ poorly trained uneducated people, it is difficult for the sector to improve on its own. Thus, governments and regional international bodies must play an expanded role in bridging critical information, techno-logic and economic gaps. It is concluded that governments and regional organizations could accomplish much in the way of improved sustainability in the small-scale mining industry by: (1) legalizing small-scale mining and implementing sector-specific legislation; (2) contributing to community development and providing increased economic support; and (3) providing training and educational assistance, and playing an expanded role in the dissemination and transfer of important technologies.

The environmental impact of small‐scale gold mining in Ghana: identifying problems and possible solutions

This paper examines the environmental impacts of small-scale gold mining in Ghana, and prescribes a series of recommendations for improving environmental performance in the industry. Since the enactment of the Small Scale Gold Mining Law in 1989, which effectively legalized small-scale gold mining in the country, industrial operations, collectively, have made important contributions to national gold output, foreign exchange earnings and employment. Accompanying this pattern of socio-economic growth, however, have been increased environmental complications – namely, mercury pollution and land degradation. The Ghanaian Minerals Commission has been burdened with most of the jurisdictional responsibilities related to small-scale mining, but with a staff of only 35–40 people working with a pool of highly obsolete research resources, it is clearly incapable of facilitating sufficient environmental improvement on its own. It is concluded that marked environmental improvements can only be achieved if: (1) assistance is provided to the Minerals Commission from local governmental bodies and academic units; (2) industry-specific environmental management tools and strategies are designed and implemented; (3) concerted effort is made to prospect for deposits suitable for small-scale gold mining, a key to preventing unnecessary exploration; and (4) a nation-wide industrial mercury study is commissioned, and a mercury retorting programme is implemented.

Environmental management system implementation in the mining industry: a key to achieving cleaner production

Abstract This article examines the business practicality of integrating an environmental management system (EMS) into mining and related operations, describes how it can contribute to cleaner production (CP) in the industry, and provides guidelines to facilitate implementation. An EMS, which is the component of the overall management system that includes organizational procedures, environmental responsibilities, and processes, can help a mining company comply with environmental regulations, identify technical and economic benefits, and ensure that corporate environmental policies are adopted and followed. To date, a number of multinational (mining) corporations—namely, the companies with economical and technological flexibility—have implemented comprehensive EMSs at sites, the key in such cases being the formation of working partnerships with administrative bodies and international organizations. A number of other mine sites worldwide, however, despite having important environmental management practices such as audits and policies in place, have received insufficient assistance and/or simply lack the requisite resources to integrate an effective EMS into operations. The article sketches a series of guidelines for mining companies keen on adopting comprehensive EMSs at sites, and argues that to facilitate widespread EMS implementation throughout the industry, expanded inputs are needed from governments, international environmental organizations, educational facilities, and the companies themselves. More specifically, regional governments must provide assistance to the more resource-deficient operations, local universities must provide the necessary EMS educational assistance to local miners and finance environmental technology demonstration projects, and international organizations must help disseminate valuable EMS information to mine managers and technical staff.

Land use competition between small- and large-scale miners: a case study of Ghana

Abstract This paper examines the impact of land use disputes between small- and large-scale miners in Ghana, and prescribes a series of recommendations for facilitating improved relations between the parties. Since the launching of the National Economic Recovery Plan (ERP) circa-1983, foreign investment has increased significantly in the Ghanaian mining sector, leading to the design and construction of a series of large-scale mines. Although a great number of companies have legally obtained plots of land from the Ghanaian Minerals Commission in the past two decades, management has often discovered, following periods of prospecting, that small-scale miners are operating illegally within the same concession. In most instances, major conflicts have resulted but recently, certain companies have worked to improve communications with resident small-scale operators, which have resulted in both parties being able to coexist in harmony within the same land plot. It is concluded, however, that marked improvements can only be achieved in this area if the understaffed Minerals Commission is provided assistance from other governmental groups and international agencies such as the World Bank and UNIDO, which already have an active involvement in the Ghanaian mining sector.

“GOOD GOVERNANCE” AND THE EXTRACTIVE INDUSTRIES IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA

This article critically examines the challenges that come with implementing the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI)—a policy mechanism marketed by donors and Western governments as a key to facilitating economic improvement in resource-rich developing countries—in sub-Saharan Africa. The forces behind the EITI contest that impoverished institutions, the embezzlement of petroleum and/or mineral revenues, and a lack of transparency are the chief reasons why resource-rich sub-Saharan Africa is underperforming economically, and that implementation of the EITI, with its foundation of “good governance,” will help address these problems. The position here, however, is that the task is by no means straightforward: that the EITI is not necessarily a blueprint for facilitating good governance in the regions resource-rich countries. It is concluded that the EITI is a policy mechanism that could prove to be effective with significant institutional change in host African countries but, on its own, it is incapable of reducing corruption and mobilizing citizens to hold government officials accountable for hoarding profits from extractive industry operations.

Small-Scale Mining in Africa: Tackling Pressing Environmental Problems With Improved Strategy:

Small-scale mining—low-tech mineral extraction and processing—has long been an important industry in Africa. For centuries, operations have provided inhabitants of the rural, more impoverished regions of the continent with a wealth of employment benefits and, more recently, have made important contributions to mineral wealth and foreign exchange earnings. However, the small-scale mining operations of Africa have also caused considerable environmental complications, including chronic soil degradation, chemical contamination, and air pollution. The aim of the present article is to provide an overview of the environmental complications associated with small-scale mining activity in Africa and to outline some environmental strategies that, if adopted, could mitigate these problems. Marked industrial environmental improvements can only be achieved if government agencies and international organizations play an expanded role in providing African small-scale miners with the economical, technological, and educational resources needed to operate more efficiently.