Factors Inhibiting Illegal Miners in the Upper Denkyira East District in the Central Region from Registering With the Minerals Commission in Ghana

Abstract

Hilson (2001) posited that illegal mining has been with us for many centuries. This is eminent as a historical trace of this phenomenon has been confirmed by various writers such as Allers, Ocansey, Yakubu and UNESCO. The rate at which this phenomenon is occurring has been increased despite its existence for centuries. In line with this, the Minerals Commission of Ghana (2013) indicated that 80% of small-scale miners within the Upper Denkyira East District have not registered. Based on this fact, the study sought to find out factors that inhibit miners from registering their activities. In line with this, the study sought to achieve the following objectives: 1. To discover the political factors that inhibits illegal miners from registering with the Minerals Commission. 2. To identify the economic factors that inhibits illegal miners from registering with the Minerals Commission. 3. To find out the socio-cultural factors that inhibits illegal miners from registering with the Minerals Commission. 4. To find out the extent to which non-participation in policy formulation could inhibit the illegal miners from registering with the Minerals Commission of Ghana. To achieve these objectives, the study employed a qualitative case study research design. In furtherance to the methodology, the study employed purposive and convenient sampling procedures. Dunkwa-On-Offin and Kyekyewere communities were selected purposively. Also, two groups and thirty-two respondents were selected made of twenty-two miners, five owners (bosses), two officials from the Minerals Commission, an official each from the District Assembly, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Lands Commission. The study used focus group guide and interview schedules as instruments for data collection. Findings from the study revealed that the issue of bureaucracy, corrupt government officials, corrupt security officials, huge amount of money needed, huge size of land required, availability of buyers, lack of environmental education and noninvolvement in policy formulation were the major factors that are inhibiting them from registering their activities with the Minerals Commission. Based on the findings, the study recommends that various policy makers such as the Government of Ghana (GoG), Minerals Commission, Lands Commission, Environmental Protection Agency, Ghana Police Service and other stakeholders should amend registration processes and policies with regards to mining activities in Ghana