A Ghanaian researcher at the Missouri University of Science and Technology has issued an urgent call for Ghana to eliminate mercury use in mining and overhaul its regulatory framework to secure a sustainable future for the sector.
Ms. Hamdiya Orleans-Boham, a Ph.D. candidate in Mining and Explosives, emphasized that eradicating mercury, especially in artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASM) is critical for public health and environmental protection.
“Mercury contamination poses severe risks to human health and ecosystems, yet it remains prevalent,” Orleans-Boham stated. “Transitioning to cleaner methods is an environmental imperative and a step toward safer working conditions.”
She highlighted that women, due to biological vulnerability, are disproportionately at risk from mercury exposure.
Through training programs with organizations like Women in Mining Ghana, she has been actively educating miners, particularly women, on non-toxic alternative techniques.
On policy, Orleans-Boham identified major gaps in Ghana’s mining governance, citing the Minerals and Mining Act (Act 703) of 2006 as insufficient to curb environmental degradation from illegal and poorly regulated mining.
“The existing legal framework requires a comprehensive overhaul supported by practical strategies,” she argued.
“We must design new, fit-for-purpose frameworks.”
She urged all stakeholders to collaborate on bold steps, outlining a plan including reviewing outdated rules, ensuring consistent law enforcement, directly engaging mining communities to develop viable alternatives and mandating secure financing for land reclamation and rehabilitation.
“We must engage communities to understand why illegal mining persists and what alternatives they need,” she said, noting past formalization efforts have failed by ignoring local realities.
Orleans-Boham’s advocacy is grounded in practical field experience. She has conducted training at ASM sites across Ghana, served as a technical trainer for Women in Mining Ghana, and lectured on ASM at the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT), Tarkwa.
While celebrating pioneering women in Ghana’s mining industry, she also pointed to persistent barriers.
“Despite our proven capability, outdated stereotypes in some companies continue to hinder women’s rightful advancement,” she noted.
Her campaign aligns with the global Minamata Convention on Mercury, stressing that Ghana’s path to sustainable mining depends on integrating technical innovation, inclusive policies, and grassroots education.
The future of the sector, Orleans-Boham concluded, hinges on coordinated action to protect people, preserve the environment, and support economic growth through integrated solutions.
