The impact of industrial surface gold mining on food crop production in the Tarkwa -aboso area

Abstract

Mining companies have created the wrong impression that soils in the Tarkwa-Aboso area are infertile and not suitable for crop production. The government of Ghana therefore continues to lease concessions in the Tarkwa- Aboso area to mining companies, who not only scrape off the rich topsoils and vegetation to expose the gold ore for extraction, but also food crops are destroyed, and farming communities are displaced. Dr. Henry Obeng conducted a soil survey in Tarkwa-Iduapriem in 1992, and his studies proved that soils in the area are good for the cultivation of cassava, plantain, cocoyam, rice and other staple crops. According to Ob eng's report, cash crops such as cocoa, rubber plantation, oil palm, and citrus also grow well in the area. The District Director of Agriculture of the Tarkwa area also reiterated that the uncontrollable displacement of farmers and degradation of farmlands through surface gold mining and "galamsey" operations have adverse impact on food crop production. This research revealed that due to the expansion of industrial surface gold mining in the Tarkwa-Aboso area, many farmers in the area have been displaced and over 79% of the displaced farmers have no access to arable land. How important was food crop production in Tarkwa-Aboso before industrial surface gold mining was introduced in the area? Was the Tarkwa- Aboso area self-sufficient in food production before industrial surface mining?

What is the current food crop production situation in the Tarkwa-Aboso area? What are the contributory factors to the current food situation in the area? How does surface mining contribute to the current food situation in Tarkwa-Aboso? The major finding of the research was that surface gold mining and food crop production cannot co-exist. There is the need for policy changes to reduce the impact of industrial surface gold mining on farmlands and communities in the Tarkwa-Aboso area.