Ghana launches $6.3m project to minimize mercury use in mining
The government of Ghana has partnered with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and United Nations Industrial Organization (UNIDO) to launch the “PlanetGold Project” in Accra on Thursday, February 9th.
This $6.3 million initiative aims to make small-scale gold mining in the country safer, cleaner, and more profitable.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will implement the project, in collaboration with UNDP, UNIDO, and Global Environmental Facility, over a five-year period from 2022 to 2027.
The focus of the project is to minimize the risks posed by mercury use in the Artisanal and Small-scale Gold Mining (ASGM) sector, while ensuring sound chemical management and eliminating pollution hazards.
Dr. Henry Kwabena Kokofu, the Executive Director of EPA, emphasized that the project would enhance Ghana’s compliance with the Minamata Convention, which aims to reduce the use of mercury globally.
He pointed out that the ASGM sector, although informal, has been growing consistently over the years and contributes a significant amount to the country’s total gold production and financial support to the economy.
Dr. Kokofu noted that the use of hazardous chemicals like mercury in the sector has led to significant environmental pollution and degradation, making the project even more timely.
The focus of the project will be on optimizing formalization, accelerating financial inclusion, enhancing the uptake of mercury-free technologies, fostering knowledge sharing and local capacity building support, among other goals.
Dr. Angela Lusigi, the Resident Representative of UNDP, emphasized the significance of the project in protecting human health and the environment.
She noted that as Africa’s largest gold producer with over one million Ghanaians employed in the sector, the project would help the country achieve the Minamata Convention on Mercury and promote green structural transformation.
