SMALL-SCALE MINING AND LIVELIHOOD IMPLICATIONS: A CASE STUDY OF TALENSI AND NABDAM DISTRICTS IN THE UPPER EAST REGION, GHANA

Abstract

Small-scale mining predates large-scale mining in Ghana but was not given much attention as the large-scale mining sector in the 1980s following the Economic Reforms and Structural Adjustment Programmes which heavily liberalized the mining sector. Nonetheless, the small-scale mining sector continues to boom, attracting a large chunk of the labour force into the mining sector. The small-scale mining sector has affected the livelihoods of several thousands of people especially those living in mining communities across the country. This study sought to ascertain the impact of small-scale mining on the livelihoods of people living in mining communities in the Upper East Region of Ghana. The study aimed at examining the current driving forces that push people into small-scale mining, its socio-economic effects on the mining communities in the districts as well as assess the effects of small-scale mining on the sources of livelihoods of the people in the mining communities. It also examines the impact of small-scale mining activities on the natural environment and lastly looks at the coping strategies available to people living in the mining communities of the Talensi and Nabdam districts. Interviews and questionnaires were used to collect qualitative and quantitative data for the study. From the study it was found out that small-scale mining provides employment (80%), opened up the local economy and has helped in alleviating poverty (63%) in the area. However, small-scale mining from the study has also largely adversely affected livelihoods in the study areas through land degradation, water pollution, air pollution and conflicts. Some of the recommendations of the study include the effective decentralization of the registration and licensing of small-scale mining firms to curtail illegal mining activities and to improve monitoring of SSM activities. The government should enforce the laws regulating the sector and foreigners found culpable especially the Chinese illegal miners be severely sanctioned.