Local perspectives on the adverse environmental effects and reclamation of illegally mined degraded landscapes in North-western Ghana

In Ghana, there is a consensus that all the artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) degraded landscapes should be restored to ecologically functionable limits after the small-scale mining ban. Restoration of the mined degraded landscapes will replenish lost ecosystems and contribute to the socio-ecological wellbeing of the nearby communities. Despite the government’s effort to reclaim these degraded landscapes, the cost and resources involved make the agenda a forlorn hope. Yet, few studies have explored the local communities’ perspectives towards reclaiming the galamsey degraded landscapes. This study investigates the perspectives of the local dwellers concerning the environmental consequences, roles, and commitment towards reclaiming the galamsey degraded landscapes. A concurrent cross-sectional mixed methods design was employed in administering 342 household questionnaires across 14 communities, which was supported with key informant interviews. Results reveal that the majority of the dwellers of the galamsey communities showed little regard for the environmental destruction caused by the galamsey operations — reduction in quantity and quality of water resources (63.2%), compromised ambient air (60.8%), destruction of ancestral homes and sacred groves (57%), and modification of the entire landscape (54.4%). In light of these findings, we posit that the local communities’ dwellers have limited knowledge of the value of the environment and future consequences of the destruction caused by the mining activities. This calls for thorough environmental education and sensitization in artisanal and small-scale mining communities.