Abstract
Artisanal small-scale mining operations in Ghana have increased over the years, and this can be attributed to factors such as the introduction of new technology and licensing irregularities, which have negatively impacted the environment and rural communities. The Ankobra basin is a valuable resource for a large population in southwestern Ghana but is significantly polluted by illegal alluvial gold mining. To eradicate overexploitation of the basin, the government has employed various strategies, including repression, formalization, and collaborative approaches, but these have failed due to power dynamics among stakeholder groups, informalities in social structures, and institutional failure. This study used a post-structural power theory to analyze the power capacities of key actors, institutions involved, and informalities influencing decision-making in illegal mining practices and their impact on the environment and rural livelihoods in Adelekezo
and Eziome (two estuarine communities along the Ankobra basin).
A total of 16 interviews and 3 focus group discussions were conducted to collect data from a variety of actors, including representatives of government institutions, traditional leaders, fishermen, and local residents. Participant observation was also conducted to get a real-life experience of pollution's impact on these local communities’ livelihoods. The study findings indicate that pollution has had a significant impact on the community's access to drinking water, economic activities like fishing and fish trading, food, and agriculture. Collaborative strategies, such as the Community Mining Scheme, were found to be constrained by power dynamics within the bureaucratic governance system, which perpetuated informalities and power structures contributing to illegal mining and pollution. These challenges included a lack of coordination among governing institutions, the marginalization of district assembly representatives, and distrust among local residents towards traditional authorities due to allegations of corruption. The study recommends establishing an inclusive community mining oversight committee with strong local representation and implementing a transparent strategy that considers participants' interests, provides incentives for positive behavior, and imposes penalties for actions against the common good.
