Natural Resource Exploitation and National Security

A Case Study of Illegal Gold Mining in Ghana

Abstract

This study fills a perceived gap in the scholarly literature regarding illegal gold mining activities in Ghana. The study goes beyond the socio-economic challenges of illegal mining to address the nexus between illegal gold mining activities and the national security of Ghana. The case study design with a qualitative methodology was used in this study to uncover the national security threats associated with illegal gold mining which is an acute problem in the country. Activities of illegal miners threaten the environmental and social unity of Ghana. Economically, the Government of Ghana is losing revenue from the gold mining sector because illegally mined gold is smuggled out of the country. Illegal miners are destroying cocoa farms, the critical cash crop that generates foreign exchange for the country. Illegal miners are destroying cocoa farms, the critical cash crop that generates foreign exchange for the country. Illegal mining has destroyed several forest reserves and farms, and also resulted in the pollution of rivers which serve as sources of potable water. Ghana’s physical security is under threat as illegal miners acquire firearms to defend their activities. This study concludes that illegal mining is fueled by unemployment and poverty. Hence, to minimize illegal mining and protect the national security of Ghana, there is the need for government, the private sector, and other stakeholders to find alternative sources of livelihood for the illegal miners and also educate them about the national security implications of their actions.