planetGOLD Ghana Educates Miners on Mercury Risks and Safer Mining Practices

As part of ongoing efforts to promote responsible artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) and reduce mercury use in the sector, the planetGOLD Ghana Project recently organized a health education programme for miners at Smart Micky Mines in Akatakyieso, one of the project's pilot sites.

The training brought together approximately 30 miners, including mercury users, equipment operators, handlers, and other service providers, to build their understanding of the health, safety, and environmental risks associated with mercury use and the benefits of adopting safer alternatives.

Facilitators engaged participants in an interactive discussion on the environmental impacts of mercury released during gold processing activities. The miners learned how mercury contaminates soil, air, and water bodies and can transform into methyl mercury, a highly toxic substance that accumulates in fish, crops, and other organisms within the food chain.

The session also highlighted the serious health effects associated with mercury exposure. Participants were informed that exposure can occur through inhalation of mercury vapour during amalgamation and burning processes, direct skin contact, and the consumption of contaminated food and water. Facilitators explained that prolonged exposure can affect the nervous, respiratory, and renal systems, causing symptoms such as tremors, fatigue, memory loss, impaired coordination, respiratory difficulties, and kidney-related illnesses.

Using practical examples, the facilitators demonstrated the long-term consequences of mercury pollution on water quality, agricultural land, and community health. The miners were also introduced to key occupational safety measures, including the proper use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) and mercury vapour capture devices to reduce exposure during gold processing activities.

The training created a platform for open dialogue, allowing participants to share their experiences with mercury use and discuss health challenges they have observed within mining communities. Several miners expressed concern about the potential long-term impacts of mercury exposure on their health and livelihoods.

Participants welcomed the initiative and commended the planetGOLD Ghana Project for bringing critical health and environmental education directly to mining communities. They reaffirmed their commitment to adopting safer and more responsible mining practices and called for additional hands-on training sessions that would provide practical demonstrations of mercury-free technologies and the correct use of protective equipment.

The miners also appealed for the accelerated introduction of mercury-free gold processing technologies to enable them to transition away from mercury use while improving productivity and protecting both human health and the environment.

The training forms part of the broader interventions being implemented by the planetGOLD Ghana Project to support the formalization and promotion of responsible supply chains of the ASGM sector through increased awareness, improved occupational health and safety, and the promotion of mercury-free gold recovery technologies.