The growth of mineral exploration and its impact on the environment in Ghana

Recently, exploration in Ghana has grown greatly due to the favourable investment climate created by the Government. As a result, many mining companies have obtained mining leases and some have already started active mining. Even though mining contributes substantially to the economy of Ghana, its operations may be quite harmful to the immediate localities where they are situated. These harmful effects include land degradation, pollution of the environs, and adverse social effects. This paper reviews the growth of the mineral exploration in Ghana, with particular attention to gold, and its impact on the environment.