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A giant manganese mine in Ghana that feeds the global electric-vehicle battery supply chain is generating toxic wastewater and hazardous dust, creating a severe environmental and health crisis for local communities, according to an investigation by environmental watchdog Global Witness.
The Nsuta mine, located in western Ghana’s Tarkwa Banso region, is a critical cog in the global transition toward greener energy. Manganese has become highly sought after by major automakers like Tesla Inc., Ford Motor Co., and General Motors Co., who see the mineral as a cheaper, more sustainable alternative to nickel and cobalt for next-generation EV cathodes. However, interviews with more than 150 residents and academic researchers reveal that the push for “net-zero” vehicle emissions is coming at a devastating local cost.
The Nsuta mine is operated by the Ghana Manganese Company (GMC), which is 90% owned by Chinese industrial giant Ningxia Tianyuan Manganese Industry Group (TMI). The remaining 10% stake is held by the Ghanaian government. According to Global Witness, TMI processes the raw ore into battery-grade compounds in China before supplying component manufacturers like Shenzhen Dynanonic, which in turn feeds major battery cells to companies including Tesla.
Locals allege that the mine operators are actively dispersing hazardous materials into the surrounding environment. Water tankers are reportedly spraying highly concentrated mine pit water onto local dirt roads to suppress dust, inadvertently releasing toxic heavy metals near residential areas and roadside food vendors.
“We realized that the mine pit water was very, very concentrated in potentially toxic metals like arsenic,” Dr. Emmanuel Daanoba Sunkari, a researcher who co-authored a 2022 water study on the area, said in an interview. “And these metals were being dispersed into the surface water and then eventually seeping down into the groundwater.”
The health repercussions for those living near the mine’s 2.5-square-kilometer tailings dump, a massive waste heap roughly the size of 31 football fields, are severe. Residents report widespread chronic respiratory issues, skin rashes, and eye irritation due to constant blasting and airborne dust. Long-term ingestion of manganese-contaminated water carries severe neurological risks, and researchers warn it could contribute to heightened rates of stillbirths and genetic defects.
“They are killing us softly,” Maryam Ackah, a resident who was relocated by GMC in 2018 to make way for a new mining pit, told investigators. “They are polluting us with chemicals, the dust, the fumes… It makes you afraid to eat.”
The environmental footprint is poised to expand rapidly. Driven by the global EV boom, TMI is aggressively scaling operations. The company raised its production target to 8 million tonnes of ore in 2025, which generated an estimated 30 million tonnes of waste. For 2026, the company is aiming for 10 million tonnes.
Independent experts have raised alarms over the structural safety of the massive waste piles looming over local villages. Dr Steven Emerman, a geophysicist who has testified before the European Parliament, reviewed photos of the site and warned that the tailings dump appears highly unstable and “way steeper than the industry standard.” He noted the structure mirrors unsafe waste piles that led to regulators shutting down three mining operations in Brazil earlier this year.
Furthermore, the physical expansion of the open-cast mine threatens the Neung Forest Reserve, a globally recognised biodiversity hotspot that climate scientists describe as a vital ecological “ark” capable of buffering the region against climate change.
Despite the mounting human and ecological toll, local advocates say government oversight has been virtually nonexistent. Regulatory bodies like the Minerals Commission and the Environmental Protection Authority have been accused of performing mere “cosmetic regulation” while failing to distribute mining revenues equitably to the impacted communities.
“No one is responsible, no one is listening,” said Richard Ellimah, a programme officer with Ghana’s Public Interest and Accountability Committee. “It is the tragedy of our time.”
