This is my school report to act as a local inspector writing a report to the president of Ghana, based on the gold mining activity occurring. Ghana is a rapidly growing country and is developing quickly, soon becoming a more economically developed country. These were based on past working conditions that may still be present in some slum cities in Ghana.
Ghana Mining Report
Dear President John Atta Mills,
I am writing a report on behalf of the gold miners and environment of our country Ghana, concerning worker safety and wage. Ghana depends on timber, manganese, cocoa, gold and since 2007, the discovery of oil brought a new hype to the wealth of our country. As I stated above, I’ll be focusing mainly on gold mining. Foreign countries like China sent over equipment to assist the miners in mining the gold. Our workers grew a suspicion that China was consuming the profits made and this brought on less profit to our workers. The mines are a dangerous place to be and workers should be well equipped with safety ropes, lines, and mining tools. The margins of safety for the miners are currently minimal, injuries regularly occur. As a local inspector, I feel pity and think that they should be able to do their job with plenty of safety. As I passed by the mines, I met a young man who had scar and cuts all over his body. He told me that everyone was aware of the dangers and risks of gold mining but it was the only way to make a living. The man added on that he wanted a change in life and that he felt mad that foreigners were benefiting more than the locals from the gold. Hearing this, I asked him about his working conditions and the requirements to work. He replied, telling me that he went down the mine with a single rope/line and wore only his shirt and pants, no padding or helmet. He brought the equipment provided for him and a small flashlight. The scars and cuts on his body were obviously from the sharp edges of the rocks down in the mine. These mine workers don’t have anything else to do that will bring a change in their lives, there are no jobs with a potential for them.
The mines are a dangerous place and should be entered only once properly equipped. In Chile, a group of miners were trapped in a mine for around seventeen days. This concerns me and I wouldn’t like that to happen to our own people. Mining brings an impact to the environment as it also does to our people. The big machines and equipment brought are used to clear anything around the mine to make space. The movement of the drills and people shift the dirt around and leaves the land looking in a terrible shape. Mines that are near villages disrupt the peace and bring lots of ‘sound pollution.’ Sometimes trees or animal habitats may be present near or on top of the mine. The workers or miners would be forced to clear the area. This would mean trees would have to be cut down and that animals would be forced out and possibly die. Foreign countries run most of the mines and once the gold is mined, they would just leave the mine, as it is, barren and empty. The foreign countries don’t have any care for the mine and its surroundings mainly because it isn’t their country; they’re just there for the money.
As a conclusion, worked out through many point of views, I would be against the mining of gold. There is little safety and as a last fact the foreigners focus intently on the bigger gold mines rather than the smaller ones. Therefore the smaller mines are less looked after and not much money is spent on it. Another reason of why I’m against gold mining is that foreigners benefit more than locals. Lastly, the gold mining brings a terrible look upon the environment of the mine and the land surrounding the mine. Many workers risk their lives mining in these dangerous mines in order to bring a bright future for their family and children. So this gold mining has an impact socially and environmentally. If you can’t stop the gold mining, at least further the safety of the workers and the equipment. Please consider the gold mining conditions according to what you think, our country is rapidly developing. Part of development is the safety and education of our people and well looked for environment. Thank you for your time!
-Arief Zul, local inspector.
