Environmental justices and injustices of large-scale gold mining in Ghana: A study of three communities near Obuasi

In this paper, I examine the environmental and social impact of large-scale gold mining in Ghana as a matter of justice of distribution, procedure, participation, and recognition. In this study of three affected communities surrounding AngloGold Ashanti's (AGA) operations in Obuasi, a communitarian approach to justice is applied to understand the disproportionate distribution of environmental and social burdens farming communities face. This communitarian analysis will demonstrate that distributive, participation-based, and recognition-based injustices persist despite recent legislation to re-regulate the minerals sector. I will explain that because this legislation is affirmative, or redistributive, the underlying cultural, political and economic structures that create inequalities are unchallenged. Injustices will continue as long as structural causes prevent affected communities from participating in the decision-making processes surrounding large-scale.