Human Security Implications Of Illegal Mining On Communities Surrounding Atiwa Forest, Ghana

Abstract

While mining has been proven to contribute significantly to economic development of nations, including Ghana, illegal mining has been a serious problem affecting people. In recent times, illegal miners have been reported to operate in the Atiwa Forest, with concomitant human security implications. The present study, therefore, relied on the human security and resource curse theories as well as Maslow‘s theory of needs to qualitatively examine the human security implications of illegal mining activities in the Atiwa Forest. The study relied on interviews of 31 respondents involving illegal miners, traders, farmers, family heads, royals of three communities around the Atiwa Forest as well as members of Forestry the Commission, District Assembly, Divisional Police, Community Mining Taskforce, District Police, and Mineral Commission. The study revealed that the illegal mining activities have affected the main sources of water in the communities, as well as people‘s food security, personal security, and health security. In addition, the study found that conflicts occur among the miners, miners and regulatory bodies, and miners and the communities. It was also found that regulatory institutions employed prosecution of illegal miners, education, and collaborative forest management as means of fighting illegal mining in the study area, which are partly effective. The study also revealed that the people use a number of coping strategies to offset the impact of illegal mining activities on their lives. It is recommended that job creation in the study area, sensitization of people on the negative consequences of illegal mining, and law enforcement should be given serious consideration in order to see to the end of illegal mining in the Atiwa Forest.