Abstract:
This study examines Environmental rights issues in unregulated artisanal small scale
mining and its impact on the communities in the Mpohor District. Mixed methods
approach and descriptive survey design were employed in this study. Purposive and
simple random procedures were used to select 117 participants. Structured
questionnaires and semi-structured interview guide were the instruments used for data
collection. SPSS was used to analyze the quantitative data while thematic analysis
was used to analyze the qualitative data. Findings of this study were that unregulated
mining activities polluted most of the water bodies within the Districts, led to the
destruction of most farmlands and removed the vegetation containing important
species supporting mans’ survival. It also increased erosion and loss of viability for
agricultural purposes, among other uses. Moreso, unregulated ASM denied residents
the right to clean water, health, and arable land, displacing people from their natural
residence and inflation occurring which negatively affect the wellbeing of the local
population. Also, children engaged in mining depriving them of their education and
spreading problems of psychological or behavioural nature such as alcoholism and
prostitution. Furthermore, findings on the use of Human Right Based Approach in
mitigating unregulated ASM included local people participation, stakeholder’s
accountability, sensitisation and awareness creation on human rights and
environmental rights and alternative livelihood creation. It was recommended that
government embark on education on the effects of unregulated ASM on their health,
environment, livelihood and socio-economic impact on posterity. Also, government
and responsible stakeholders should create protected areas designated for agricultural
purpose alone in the mining communities to ensure the continuity of food crop
production. Furthermore, Stringent measures should be enacted and enforced to
prevent landowners to still leased lands out. Moreso, the government can develop and
invest in legalizing unregulated ASM and enforcing laws and policies to reduce the
environmental hazards in the communities.
Description:
A thesis in the Centre of Conflict, Human Rights and Peace Studies,
Faculty of Social Sciences Education, submitted to the School of
Graduate Studies in partial fulfillment
of the requirements for the award of the degree of
Master of philosophy
(Conflict, Human Rights and Peace Studies)
in the University of Education, Winneba