Livelihood coping strategies among displaced small scale miners in Ghana. (December 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mabe, Franklin N.; Owusu-Sekyere, Ebenezer; Adeosun, Oluyemi Theophilus
• Is Part Of: Resources policy. Volume 74(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-12
• Subjects: Coping strategies -- Galamsey -- Livelihood -- Mining -- Moratorium; Mines and mineral resources -- Periodicals; Ressources minérales -- Périodiques; Ressources naturelles -- Gestion -- Périodiques; Environnement -- Politique gouvernementale -- Périodiques; 333.8
• DOI: 10.1016/j.resourpol.2021.102291
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0301-4207

Abstract

Abstract: One major sub-sector that contributes immensely to job creation among people in rural Ghana is small scale mining. Notwithstanding, it has spawned land degradation, water pollution and regular reports of death attributed to pit collapse but these do not deter the miners from such enterprise. Government's attempt to streamline the sector through a moratorium has deprived the miners from their livelihood, compelling them to adopt alternative livelihood strategies. This study investigated the livelihood coping strategies adopted by the displaced miners. Cross-sectional data were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire. A multivariate probit model was used to analyze the determinants of the coping strategies. The three livelihood coping strategies adopted by miners were farming, trading, and labor supply. Of the three, farming emerged as the most dominant livelihood coping strategy. Institutional factors, personal characteristics, and location-specific factors influenced the adoption of livelihood coping strategies. The paper suggests the need to understand the far reaching livelihood implications of policy decisions on regulating the small scale mining sector. Therefore, there is the need for duty bearers to design tailor-made training programmes for the displaced miners and the employers to capacitate them in coping with the ban. This paper highlights that good policies also have negative consequences that need to be managed well by the government and other stakeholders. Highlights: Over the past decade, the government of Ghana has been trying to regulate the activities of the artisanal small scale miners. The latest is the moratorium on small scale mining activities IGF, 2017, resulting in the loss of livelihoods. The displaced small scale miners and their employees have tried to cope with the impacts of the ban. This study revealed that many of the miners and their employers have resorted to farming as the main coping strategy. Other coping strategies adopted are petty trading and the supply of labour services. The differences in the coping strategies that miners and their employees adopted are due to differences in the institutional factors, personal characteristics and location-specific factors. Therefore, there is a need for specialised training and support packages for the displaced miners.