Occupying the Fringes: The Struggles of Women in Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining in Rural Ghana—Evidence from the Prestea–Huni Valley Municipality

Abstract

Across many mineral-rich developing countries, artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) has been noted as a crucial socioeconomic activity for most rural people. Over the past 2 decades, there has been growing participation of women in the ASM sector with extant studies examining why women participate in ASM, the roles they play and how their involvement enhances their socioeconomic development. However, the socio-structural dynamics and gendered relations within ASM are poorly understood and underexplored despite the increasing participation of women in the sector. Based on field observations and interviews involving 49 women miners in the Prestea-Huni Valley Municipality of Ghana, this paper discusses the on-site challenges of women in ASM through multiple standpoint and African feminism theoretical perspectives. It also examines how understanding the struggles of women can reduce their work-related risks and promote gender-sensitive policies for rural women's empowerment in ASM. The study finds that the struggles of working women in ASM involve cultural marginalisation and gendered work patterns, poor working environment, poor work support services for women with children, lack of legal and economic rights, and inter-ethnic discrimination by employers. We argue that policymakers, relevant stakeholders, and the government through the district assemblies should collaborate with small-scale mining employers to enhance gender-sensitive on-site regulatory policies, ensure safe working environments for workers, and provide locally appropriate work support services for women in ASM. We further argue that, government and regulatory institutions need to promote gender mainstreaming for 'inclusion of women' in the management structure at mine sites and also the extraction and processing stages of ASM.

Navigating access to golden lands: Gender roles and constraints of women in artisanal and small‐scale mining operations in north‐western Ghana

“…For instance, Budig (2002) relied on the African feminism philosophy to explore the struggles African women go through in an effort to project their identity. The ASM industry is one of the most stereotyped sectors in SSA where women are considered unfit to perform mainstream mining jobs (Arthur‐Holmes & Busia, 2021). According to Bittman (2001), these gender prejudices and stereotypes are created and acquired from society with the family as the starting point.…”

“…Invariably, women are largely perceived as sources of supplementary labour in every ASM setup. They rely largely on men who are mine/pit owners to make ends meet, and they are largely secluded from making any significant economic gain from the labour they offer compared to men (Arthur-Holmes & Busia, 2021). However, the pertinent question is why is it that women cannot mine independently?…”

Sorting the facts from the lots: Contribution of artisanal and small-scale mining (galamsey) to rural livelihood configurations in sub-Saharan Africa

“…In recent times, ASM activities in Ghana have come under serious condemnation in both scholarly and policy cycles owing to the increasing adverse environmental ramifications such as contamination, siltation, and diversion of the natural flow of rivers, destruction of aquatic life, and degradation of land and terrestrial ecosystems (Baddianaah et al, 2022b). Social challenges occasioned by ASM activities include the prevalence of school dropout, child labor, and sexual exploitation of women nationwide, while tax evasion constitutes the major economic challenge (Arthur-Holmes and Busia, 2021). These environmental, social, and economic conundrums have painted a bad picture of ASM and its operators.…”

Dimensions of women’s mobility, livelihoods and vulnerability in artisanal and small-scale mining-induced local economy

“…For example, many women, especially young girls in Ghana are on the move to cities in search of jobs and financial independence. Others work at the fringes of the formal and informal sector, where livelihoods are characterised by insecurity and limited financial rewards (Arthur-Holmes and Abrefa Busia, 2021;Nsanzimana et al, 2020;Shand et al, 2017).…”