The artisanal gold mining
activities in Ghana are on the increase as thousands of jobless youths
engage in this act known locally as Galamsey, defying the dangers to
their health and causing serious environmental damage like land
degradation, water pollution, erosion of agricultural site and
deforestation while in search of precious Gold known locally as "THE
MONEY". The improper use and handling of mercury by miners to extract
gold from the fine sand lead to potential health hazards among miners
and inhabitants of some of the gold rich communities in Ghana. Some
have died while doing Galamsey but some of the youths will tell you it's
all by survival.