Assessing the impacts, interactions and implementation of policy for small-scale mining in the Western Region of Ghana

The focus of this research was on the impacts of ASGM from different perspectives, the effectiveness of legislation and policies, and the needs of miners in order to improve the social and environmental sustainability of their activities. As part of this programme of work, interviews were conducted with a range of government officials and stakeholders, including representatives of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Minerals Commission, Lands Commission, District Assemblies, Traditional Authorities, large-scale mining companies and small-scale miners‟ groups and associations. Questionnaires were also conducted with illegal small-scale miners on the driving factors for their involvement in illegal small-scale mining, the key challenges they face, and to ascertain their knowledge of the negative environmental and health impacts of their activities, including those associated with mercury.