Abstract:
This report provides an insight into the involvement of children in surface mining
activities. It endeavors to throw more light on the roles played by children in
surface mining and the dangers faced by such children and the long term effect on
their education and health.
The objectives of the study were to examine the living conditions of children in the
study area, roles assigned to children in mining activities; the working conditions of
such children; the effects of involvement mining on children; programmes
undertaken by government agencies and child focus NGOs in the Mpohor Wassa
East District Assembly (MWEDA) to address involvement of children in mining.
The study also provides information on what can be done to reduce involvement of
children in mining in the study area.
The data for the study was collected from the Mpohor in the MWEDA in the
Western Region of Ghana and is based on interviews with 100 children; 58 boys
and 42 girls. Three focus group discussions were held; one for children and two for
adults. The study employed basic and simple statistical tools to analyse the data.
Bivariate analysis is the main analytical tool used.
One of the key findings of the study is 32% of the children interviewed were
engaged in surface mining at the time of the study, suggesting that, for every three
children in the study area, one is in involved in surface mining a situation which is very alarming. The study revealed a higher involvement of boys, 19 than girls, and
13. Education profile of the children engaged in mining activities shows that 23 of
out of 32 children are in school as compared to 61 out of 68 children not engaged in
surface mining activities.
A major recommendation of the study is the need for programmes targeting
parents’ economic background to be pursued by relevant agencies to reduce their
dependence on the income brought in by children.
