ACCRA, Ghana — Illegal small-scale gold mining in Ghana has been linked with the destruction of the environment and illness. A protest in Accra, Ghana, demanding government action on illegal gold mining. Yaw Amoafo, who owns several small gold mines employing 20 to 30 people each, said public anger at galamsey mining has forced him to cease operations. He added that he feared the government would introduce a short-term ban on small-scale mining, like the one it implemented in 2017. Earlier this year it opened the government-backed Royal Ghana Gold Refinery, with the intent of getting it accredited by the LBMA.

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Persons: galamsey, Nana Akufo, Nipah Dennis, Cristina Aldehuela, Addo, Yaw Amoafo, “, ”, Amoafo, Eddie James Richmond, Neil Harby, Harby, Francis Kokoroko, Swissaid Organizations: West, Water Resources Commission, Getty, Ghana’s Ministry of Land, Resources, Ghana Water Ltd, International Institute for Strategic Studies, Watch, Ghana’s Minerals, International Monetary Fund, Sahara Royal Gold Refinery, London Bullion Market Association, Reuters, State Department, Royal, Royal Ghana Gold Refinery Locations: ACCRA, Ghana, Accra, ”, AFP, Cape Coast, Pra, Kibi, London, U.K, South Africa, Africa, Switzerland, Mali, Zimbabwe, Royal Ghana