Title: Impact of Artisanal/Illegal Mining on Livability in Asankragua, Ghana
Author/Institution: M. Twumasi – Master’s Thesis, International Institute of Social Studies (ISS), Erasmus University Rotterdam
Publication Year: 2024
The Human Dimension of Ghana’s Gold Rush
M. Twumasi’s master’s research delves into how artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM)—particularly its illegal forms known as galamsey—has reshaped daily life and social wellbeing in Asankragua, a mining town in Ghana’s Western Region. The thesis situates galamsey within a broader political economy of survival, showing that informal extraction offers income and identity for marginalized groups while simultaneously eroding public health, safety, and cohesion. Twumasi traces the paradox of a community dependent on gold yet trapped in cycles of social fragility, revealing how residents navigate the trade-off between livelihood and livability.
Methodology and Empirical Findings
Drawing on household surveys, participatory observation, and in-depth interviews with miners, traders, and municipal officials, the study constructs a multidimensional “Livability Index” combining physical, economic, and social indicators. The data reveal declining water quality, housing insecurity, and increased exposure to violence and drug use as galamsey expands into urban peripheries. Twumasi’s analysis underscores that while informal mining can temporarily reduce poverty, its long-term social costs— pollution, health risks, and social dislocation—undermine the very conditions for sustainable community life.
Policy Lessons and Broader Implications
The thesis concludes that effective regulation must transcend punitive crackdowns and focus on inclusive local governance. Twumasi calls for participatory zoning, livelihood diversification, and youth-skills programs to transition informal miners into safer and formalized employment. More broadly, the Asankragua case challenges policymakers to redefine “development” beyond GDP metrics—to include environmental health, community stability, and human dignity. As Africa’s gold frontier expands, Twumasi’s work offers an essential reminder: the measure of progress is not only what communities extract from the earth, but what remains for those who live upon it.