The welfare impact of small-scale mining in the Talensi–Nabdam District of Ghana

Golden Migrants: The Rise and Impact of Illegal Chinese Small‐Scale Mining in Ghana

“…At the global level, mining contributes to the socioeconomic development of many countries. This is so in the developing world, particularly in Sub‐Saharan Africa where the mining sector is dominated by small‐scale miners (Akudugu, Mahama, and Atami ). Across the continent, a variety of minerals are mined in this sector and in Ghana, two‐thirds of all mining production involves gold (Hentschel, Hruschka, and Priester , 11).…”

“…The activities of small‐scale miners in most cases form the foundation blocks for the socioeconomic and politicocultural development of mining communities that are mostly rural and deprived. This is because the small‐scale mining sector offers employment not only to people who are directly engaged in the mineral extractions but also to people involved in mining‐related local businesses, among others—all of which are critical for the socioeconomic and politicocultural transformation of mining communities (Akudugu, Mahama, and Atami ).…”

“…In the specific case of Ghana, small‐scale mining is not a new phenomenon in the country. It has been in existence for over six centuries and predates colonialism (Akudugu, Mahama, and Atami ). In precolonial times, Ghana produced and used gold for the manufacturing of traditional artifacts.…”

“…The regularization of small‐scale mining in Ghana in 1989 seems to have popularized the activity with the country experiencing a rapid and unprecedented upsurge in both legal and illegal small‐scale mining activities (Akudugu, Mahama, and Atami ). The implementation of successive structural adjustment programs and concurrent policy reforms in the mining sector appear to have given currency to the phenomenon.…”