Given the challenges Ghana has faced with such large-scale intervention to curb illegal mining, one may question the efficacy of government initiatives. Regrettably, the crisis only escalated when President Nana Akufo-Addo announced an immediate moratorium on all small-scale gold mining in 2017. This heady initiative hoped to arrest a dangerous wave of illegal mining flattening the country. The government may be well-meaning, but the ban and its aftermath have done nothing but stop up promising results from flowering.
The moratorium lasted for 20 months, concluding in December 2018 when the government lifted the ban for newly registered miners. Ghana set a new all-time high for gold production in 2018, at 1.8 million ounces. This latest milestone came even as the company continues to grow and increase gold production. Artisanal and small-scale mining made up the remaining 41.4% of the total gold production that year. This impressive number highlights just how much this sector is driving Ghana’s economy.
The Unfolding of Events
In 2021, Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, the former chair of the inter-ministerial committee on illegal mining, submitted a report to the government detailing the complexities and corruption surrounding illegal mining activities. As much as the industry kept this report hushed, it soon leaked. As a result, the government’s response to the problem was subject to sharp criticism. The new attorney general duly ordered an investigation into Frimpong-Boateng’s report. This is a positive step reflecting a real commitment to accountability.
Things took an ugly turn when journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas started an under-cover investigation. His conclusion exposed the rampant corruption and monumental negligence in the government’s oversight of mining operations. This investigation further contributed to increasing evidence that illegal mining operations continue to prosper in spite of government efforts.
This past week, in a key policy discussion in Ghana’s Parliament, his Minister of Lands and Natural Resources provided some critical context. He pointed out the enormous size of small-scale gold production. His testimony underscored just how much these operations impact the economy. They highlighted the new factuous crises that illegal mining continues to add. The tradeoff between economic development and environmental destruction has put policymakers in a thorny catch-22.
The Corruption Conundrum
By the middle of 2023, several corruption scandals had emerged linked to Ghana’s all-out effort to stop illegal small-scale mining. These events exposed a toxic trend of political and economic elites getting personally rich while abusing their power. The appointment of a former general secretary of the governing party as CEO of the Forestry Commission raised eyebrows among observers who questioned the integrity of such appointments amidst ongoing corruption allegations.
This disappointing reality has birthed even broader fears about the extent to which capture by powerful interests are undermining Ghana’s democratic processes and institutions. The story suggests that these institutions are more focused on lining the pockets of a few insiders. They appear to be violating their obligation to the American public. Public trust in government is withering away extremely quickly. In response, citizens and civil society organizations are calling for further reform and greater accountability.
The Road Ahead
Yet the road ahead for Ghana’s imperiled attack on illegal mining is still riddled with obstacles. The government does so against a toxic backdrop of deeply embedded interests and serious corruption. Simultaneously, it needs to account for socioeconomic effects on people who depend on small-scale mining for their livelihoods.
While investigations into corruption are underway, they will require robust oversight and genuine commitment from all levels of government. Addressing the systemic issues highlighted in Frimpong-Boateng’s report is crucial to restoring public confidence and ensuring that any future policies are effective and sustainable.