Journal of Environment and Earth Science www.iiste.org ISSN 2224-3216 (Paper) ISSN 2225-0948 (Online) Vol.8, No.7, 2018 98 Impacts of Illegal Mining (Galamsey) on the Environment (Water and Soil) At Bontefufuo Area in the Amansie West District *Richard. A. Kuffour 1 , Benjamin. M. Tiimub 1 , and D. Agyapong 2 1. Department of Environmental Health and Sanitation Education, University of Education, Winneba P.O. Box M40, Ashanti-Mampong, Ghana * E-mail of the corresponding author: rakuffour@gmail.com 2. Department of Science Education, University of Education, Winneba. E-mail: benmakimit@yahoo.com; dan.wasty.2@gmail.com Abstract Illegal mining (galamsey) is known to cause significant environmental pollution; the chemical used and the waste heaps are a source of long term contamination of soil and water bodies. The thrust of this study was to assess the impact of illegal mining operations on the soil and water bodies at four (4) selected communities (Esaase-Manhyia, Aboabo, Mpatuam and Tetrem) in Bontefufuo in the Amansie West District of Ghana. Three 100m × 100m plots were demarcated at each galamsey site in each community. The extent of environmental damage was assessed in respect of numbers of pits and heaped laterite per plot, area of pits and heaped laterite identified on plots and amount of ore washed. Level of pollution of streams in the study area were also analysed. Large pits were dug and had all their streams polluted to a certain degree. There was a statistical significant difference (p = 0.000) between the mean radii of pits dug in the different communities. Furthermore, many heaps of stockpiles were found at Tetrem as compared to the other mining sites. The radii of the heaped laterite differed statistically (p = 0.021) between the communities. Large quantities of ore were washed daily in the communities and were statistically different (p = 0.001). Turbidity was extremely high above the EPA-Ghana recommended limit of 5NTU with corresponding low level of Dissolved Oxygen in the range of 1.43mg/L, and 2.40mg/L, recorded in all the water bodies at the sites. Notwithstanding, the pH, conductivity and Total Dissolve Solids (TDS) were all within the range of EPA Ghana standards. Mercury was identified as the main chemical used for the gold extraction in all the sites which is polluting the soil and water bodies in the area. Keywords: Illegal mining, water pollution, galamsey operation, soil degradation 1.0 Introduction The activities of illegal mining (galamsey) operators pose great threat to the environment (Asiedu, 2013) and this has heightened interest from the public and many researchers. Although, it has been a source of employment for some sect of the youth (Amponsah-Tawiah and Dartey-Baah, 2011), and also contributes to the overall gold production annually, its environmental consequences are myriad and very critical. It involves the exploitation of mineral deposits using rudimentary tools and primitive mining and processing techniques (Owusu-Boateng and Kumi-Aboagye, 2013) and often employs unskilled and stark illiterates who for diverse reasons, have little or no sensitization for the consequences of their actions on the environment (Kessey and Arko, 2013; Mudyazhezha and Kanhukamwe, 2014). They involve in activities that cause varying degrees of environmental degradation including large and dangerous excavations, vegetation destruction, pollution of soil, air and water with remnants of hazardous chemicals and heavy metal. Pollution of water bodies, vegetative cover and the soil are the most noticeable effect of mining. The large amount of water needed to wash the ore often results in illegal miners working close to water bodies (Fatawu and Allan, 2014; Mudyazhezha and Kanhukamwe, 2014). This results in heavy contamination of the streams/rivers with the debris as tailings are discarded directly into the rivers without any form of treatment (Kessey and Arko, 2013). Not only does it alter the aesthetic feature but also the phyisco-chemical and biological parameters of the river/stream making it unfit for domestic purposes. Some key rivers and streams, particularly Birim, Densu, Pra, Ankobra have been polluted to the extent that, they are almost losing their self-cleansing ability. These rivers that serve communities along the watersheds are turned into reservoirs for dangerous chemicals disposal and also turned muddy because of heavy siltation