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23 Technium Soc. Sci. J. 1 (2021)

handle is hein.journals/techssj23 and id is 1 raw text is: Technium Social Sciences Journal Vol. 23, 1-15, September, 2021 ISSN: 2668-7798 SOCIAL SCIENCES JOURNAL www.techniumscience.com The impact of illegal mining on public health: A case study in kenyasi, the Ahafo region of Ghana Ebenezer Owusu Mensah1, Edward Delali Darku2 'College of Public Administration, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry university, China, 2 Fujian medical university, China ebenezerowusu894(gmail.com, edwardarku(&gmail.com Abstract. Mining is an economic pillar of many countries endowed with natural mineral resources, including gold, diamond, bauxites, and gemstone, among others. Unregulated or illegal mining poses several health risks to people living within or close to mining communities. People living within mining communities across the world have in the past experienced and continue to experience health threatening disease, which includes respiratory, kidney, musculoskeletal, and skin diseases. This research was conducted in Kenyasi the district capital of Asutifi north district of Ghana to examine the impact of illegal mining on public health A total of 200 respondents were contacted for essential information of which 100 lives close to mines and other 100 lives far away from mining communities; we identified the former by those who live 10 to 20 kilometers from mining communities whereas the latter were identified by those who live in a neighboring community where mining activities are not in existence. The main research instruments used were questionnaires, interviews, and focus group discussion. Data collected were analyzed using statistical package for social science (SPSS) software. Econometric models such as multiple linear regression model and Mann-U Whitney were used to analyze data collected. The findings revealed that inhabitants in the community face numerous challenges such as water, air, and land pollutions from illegal mining activities due to miners' excessive use of dangerous chemicals like mercury. The study also revealed that individuals close to mines at Kenyasi in the Asutifi north district capital suffered from health problems than their counterpart who live far from mines. The increment of illegal mining in the kenyasi district capital of Asutifi north of Ghana has caused numerous environmental hazards to many individuals and households. Although the negative impact of illegal mining affects the entire nation; It can be concluded in our study that both miners and non- miners who live close to mining area suffered more health problem which includes vulnerable group (women and children) than those who live far from mining areas. Keywords. Mining, Public health, Education, Economy, Developing countries Introduction Mining continues to play a pivotal role in the socio-economic development of countries with abundant mineral deposits (1). Recent surges in demand for world natural resources have caused an increase in both local and international extraction of resources and land-use change (2). Gold is one of the predominant mineral resources that immensely support the economic progress of many developing countries. The last ten years have witnessed a significant increase in gold price (360%) at a constant rate of 18% per year; The price continues to set new records 1

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