The Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences (GAAS) hosted its 2024 Annual Lecture in the Sciences on October 3, 2024, at the Kwame Nkrumah Auditorium in Accra.
This year’s lecture, titled “Gold Beneficiation in Ghana: Promoting Sustainable Practices,” was delivered by Professor Grace Ofori-Sarpong Akuffo, a renowned professor of minerals and metallurgical engineering.
The event was chaired by Emerita Professor Isabella Akyinbah Quakyi, Vice President of the Sciences section at GAAS.
Professor Akuffo’s lecture focused on the urgent need for sustainable practices in Ghana’s gold mining industry, with a particular emphasis on the challenges faced by both large-scale and artisanal miners.
She explained the gold beneficiation process—the extraction of gold from ore—and the critical environmental and social impacts associated with it.
“Mining is essential for accessing non-renewable resources,” she explained, noting Ghana’s rich mineral deposits.
She discussed the economic significance of gold mining and the necessity of ensuring that mining activities are conducted sustainably to benefit both the country and future generations.
Throughout her presentation, Professor Akuffo outlined the environmental challenges posed by gold mining, particularly pollution and health risks from illegal mining, or “galamsey.”
She also highlighted the need for better oversight and sustainable practices among large-scale and artisanal miners to minimize these negative effects.
Illustrating her points with geological maps, she detailed the gold beneficiation processes employed by large-scale operations and the often unregulated small-scale mining sector.
While large-scale mining companies operate under stricter regulations, Professor Akuffo pointed out that artisanal mining frequently lacks adequate oversight, leading to severe environmental damage.
She also discussed the diverse applications of gold beyond its use in jewelry, such as in healthcare for dental work and medical implants. This emphasized the broad value of the mineral when managed responsibly.
In her conclusion, Professor Akuffo called on all stakeholders in the mining sector to prioritize sustainability and protect the environment. She emphasized the importance of a collaborative approach to ensure that Ghana maximizes its mineral wealth without compromising environmental integrity.
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Story by: Akpalu Edmond Deladem | univers.ug.edu.gh
