Decentralisation, informal mining, and environmental health: A political ecology perspective on Ghana’s mineral wealth management

Abstract

Background: In Ghana, a transformative shift is reshaping the management of natural resources by transferring authority from  centralised bodies to local governance structures. This pivotal change aims to empower stakeholders at the grassroots level to oversee  resource governance. Concurrently, efforts to formalise mining activities seek to bring regulation and structure to mining rights. This  evolving institutional change has sparked intricate dynamics among multiple actors, each striving to shape institutional reforms and  influence the distribution of mineral resources.

Objectives: Rooted on insights from political ecology, this study aims to profoundly  examine the ramifications of decentralisation on formalisation endeavours, particularly delving into the detrimental impacts of informal  mining, commonly known as galamsey in Ghana.

Methods: Focused on Dokrupe and Tinga communities, the study employed a mixed- method approach to engage with a diverse array of stakeholders, including members from water user associations, traditional leaders,  gold committees, youth groups, heads of the District Assembly’s sub-committees and household heads for both qualitative and  quantitative data.

Results: The findings underscore the critical need to situate the adverse effects of informal artisanal mining within the  broader context of stakeholders’ strategic adaptations following the partial implementation of decentralisation. Notably, the reluctance  to delegate power to local stakeholders in managing mineral wealth stands out, potentially fueling informal mining practices. This, in  turn, worsens environmental degradation and triggers significant health crises among miners and community residents. The policy  recommendations emphasised in this paper underscore the urgency of absolutely decentralised, robust environmental regulations and  participatory decision-making processes.

Conclusions: The paper advocates for empowering local communities through education and  engagement initiatives to foster sustainable mining practices and mitigate negative health impacts. These recommendations are crucial  in steering towards more inclusive, communitydriven resource governance, ultimately promoting sustainable development and healthier  mining practices in Ghana’s mining communities.