Peter Owusu

Remote sensing analysis of environmental and social impacts of illegal mining in Western Ghana

Artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) is a vital livelihood source across many developing economies, but when practised illegally and unregulated, it can undermine sustainable development through widespread environmental degradation and institutional strain. In Ghana, illegal ASM has intensified over the past decade, particularly in mineral-rich forest and agricultural landscapes, raising concerns about land degradation, water pollution, and governance failure. This research investigates the spatial and socio-political dimensions of illegal ASM in the Western Region of Ghana, focusing on vegetation loss and river turbidity as environmental indicators, and examining the institutional response through expert perspectives.

To assess these impacts, a mixed-methods approach was adopted. Satellite imagery from 2014 to 2024 was analysed using the Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and Normalised Difference Turbidity Index (NDTI) to quantify ecological change. Supervised classification techniques were used to map the expansion of mining activities along the Tano River corridor. These were complemented by qualitative interviews with key stakeholders from the Minerals Commission, Environmental Protection Agency, and Forestry Commission. Thematic analysis of the interviews provided institutional insights on regulatory challenges, land-use conflicts, and community engagement.

Results reveal a marked decline in vegetation cover between 2014 and 2024, and a sharp rise in turbidity between 2018 and 2024, especially in river segments adjacent to intensive mining. Classification outputs show a steady spatial expansion of mining over a 10-year period. The stakeholder narratives highlight persistent gaps in enforcement, inter-agency coordination, and local-level consultation. Together, these findings underscore the multi-scalar and multi-sectoral nature of illegal ASM impacts.

The study concludes that meaningful progress toward sustainable land and resource governance in Ghana will require integrated strategies that combine spatial intelligence, institutional strengthening, and participatory engagement. This work contributes to the growing field of interdisciplinary sustainability research by demonstrating the value of combining geospatial analysis with qualitative inquiry to inform locally relevant, evidence-based policy.