Illegal Mining and Sustainable Water Management in Rural Ghana: A Study of the Tain District.

Abstract

Water insecurity is a growing concern in Ghana’s rural areas, where environmental degradation and weak governance converge to undermine sustainable resource management. In particular, the expansion of illegal small-scale mining (galamsey) poses serious threats to water systems, livelihoods, and institutional legitimacy. This study investigates the interplay between illegal mining and sustainable water governance in Ghana’s Tain District. Framed by polycentric governance theory, the research explores how institutional fragmentation, traditional authority dynamics, and civic exclusion affect water resource management in mining-affected rural communities. Despite the presence of national frameworks such as the Water Resources Commission Act and Ghana’s National Water Policy, enforcement remains weak, politicized, and poorly coordinated. Using a qualitative case study design, the study draws on in-depth interviews with 28 purposively selected participants, including institutional officials, traditional leaders, and community stakeholders. Data were thematically analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s (2022) framework. Findings reveal that illegal mining has severely degraded local water bodies such as the Tain River and Sukasu stream, increasing household water costs, health risks, and reducing agricultural productivity. Institutional actors operate in silos, while traditional authorities exhibit dual roles, either resisting or enabling mining, undermining coherent governance. Civic awareness is low, and public participation in water decision-making is minimal. The study concludes that illegal mining is not only an environmental threat but a governance crisis. Ensuring water sustainability requires integrated, inclusive reforms focused on institutional synergy, traditional leadership engagement, civic education, and viable livelihood alternatives