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From diurnal to nocturnal: Surviving in a chaotic artisanal and small-scale mining sector

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  • Bansah, K.J.

Abstract

Artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM)–mostly informal, low-tech, and hazardous form of mining–serves as a significant source of livelihood for many populations in many countries. Characterized by widespread environmental vandalism, the government of Ghana banned ASM in March 2017 for a period of six months but later extended the ban indefinitely. Subsequently, the government formed a security taskforce to clamp down on miners who defied the ban. In December 2018, the government lifted the ban to allow only registered artisanal gold miners to operate, depriving a significant proportion of unregistered informal miners of their livelihoods. Unregistered informal mining is still banned. To explore the coping and adaption strategies adopted by the affected informal miners, a mixed-methods approach, including purposive and snowball sampling techniques and in-depth interviews, was employed. Amid brutalities, injuries, pay-to-play corruption, and destruction of mining equipment, many of the affected informal miners navigate a chaotic, ever-changing landscape in search of income to feed themselves and their dependents. While some of these miners defy government orders and work during the day–facing brutalities of government security forces–many others operate at night to evade the security forces. For some, they have to brace dangerous situations on the Gulf of Guinea and unknown and challenging terrains to engage in ASM in neighboring countries where the miners believe that mining regulations and enforcement are lax.

Suggested Citation

  • Bansah, K.J., 2019. "From diurnal to nocturnal: Surviving in a chaotic artisanal and small-scale mining sector," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 64(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jrpoli:v:64:y:2019:i:c:s0301420719304283
    DOI: 10.1016/j.resourpol.2019.101475
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Osei, Lydia & Yeboah, Thomas & Kumi, Emmanuel & Antoh, Ernestina Fredua, 2021. "Government's ban on Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining, youth livelihoods and imagined futures in Ghana," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 71(C).
    2. Geenen, Sara & Stoop, Nik & Verpoorten, Marijke, 2021. "How much do artisanal miners earn? An inquiry among Congolese gold miners," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 70(C).
    3. Ami A. Meutia & Royke Lumowa & Masayuki Sakakibara, 2022. "Indonesian Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining—A Narrative Literature Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(7), pages 1-28, March.
    4. Alves, Wellington & Ferreira, Paula & Araújo, Madalena, 2021. "Challenges and pathways for Brazilian mining sustainability," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 74(C).
    5. Henry Adobor, 2023. "Contested concept, competing narratives, and coercive policy intervention: A study of government intervention in the illegal artisanal mining sector in Ghana," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 35(7), pages 1814-1832, October.
    6. Rejoice Selorm Wireko-Gyebi & Michael Osei Asibey & Owusu Amponsah & Rudith Sylvana King & Imoro Braimah & Godfred Darko & Anne Mette Lykke, 2020. "Perception of Small-Scale Miners on Interventions to Eradicate Illegal Small-Scale Mining in Ghana," SAGE Open, , vol. 10(4), pages 21582440209, October.
    7. Royke Lumowa & Suyud Warno Utomo & Tri Edhi Budhi Soesilo & Hariyadi Hariyadi, 2022. "Promote Social Order to Achieve Social and Ecological Justice for Communities to Prevent Illegal Artisanal Small-Scale Gold Mining," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(15), pages 1-17, August.
    8. Stemn, Eric & Amoh, Prince Oppong & Joe-Asare, Theophilus, 2021. "Analysis of artisanal and small-scale gold mining accidents and fatalities in Ghana," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 74(C).
    9. Osman, Adams & Owusu, Martin Tabi & Anu, Stephen Kwame & Essandoh, Sampson & Aboansi, Justice & Abdullai, Dennis, 2022. "Ban on artisanal mining in Ghana: Assessment of wellbeing, party affiliation and voting pattern of miners in Daboase, Western Region," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).

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