The dynamics and livelihood implications of illegal mining in Ghana: A critical assessment |
| |
| Authors: | Kwadwo Afriyie Kabila Abass Foster Frempong Beatrice Arthur Razak M Gyasi |
| |
| Institution: | 1. Department of Geography and Rural Development, Faculty of Social Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana;2. College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana;3. Ageing and Development Unit, African Population and Health Research Center, Nairobi, Kenya |
| |
| Abstract: | Discourses on “illegal” or informal small-scale mining (galamsey) have presented it largely as a menace. Using Ghana as the focus of our study, we present a counter-narrative to the predominant discourse. Employing qualitative in-depth interviews with 193 local galamsey operators, the study found that economic factors coupled with the combative posture of state regulatory agencies explain the persistence of illegal activity. Although galamsey is not problem-free, the study revealed it is the livelihood support base of such communities, providing jobs and incomes to many households. Since mineral-rich local communities, at least, in part, depend on galamsey, the state and its regulatory agencies could collaboratively work with local agencies and mineral-rich communities to fully exploit the hidden treasures in galamsey while reducing the proximate negative effects. |
| |
| Keywords: | galamsey Ghana illegal mining in-depth qualitative interview livelihood socioeconomic development |
|
|
