Transforming Ghana's ASM industry: The intersection of ‘mining schemes’ and stakeholder collaboration

Abstract

Weak institutional frameworks related to artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) operations have exposed many mineral-rich countries to negative environmental consequences. In Ghana, for example, mining-related environmental challenges led to a total ban on ASM activities in 2017. In light of this, the government of Ghana launched a programme dubbed the ‘Community Mining Scheme’ (CMS), premised on multi-stakeholder cooperation, as an alternative to illegal mining. Recently, however, the new (NDC led) government has disbanded the scheme, proposing to replace it with a new scheme – mining cooperatives – which are also expected to be operationalised by local mining communities and other stakeholders. Thus, this study employs a stakeholder analysis framework to examine the roles and agency of the various stakeholders expected to operationalise the framework and structure of the new scheme. We delineate ways by which mining authorities can tap into the synergies of the various stakeholders in order to achieve sustainable mining practices. We conclude by encouraging future research to go further to place the CMS discussion more accurately into the context of how far the project grew, and possibly explore the challenges that confronted the project, so as to provide insights that could either help reshape policy or refine ideas about the new ‘mining cooperatives’ scheme.