The impact of Covid-19 on gold and gemstone artisanal and small-scale mining in sub-Saharan Africa: The case of Ghana and Kenya

Abstract

Artisanal and small-scale miners are facing unprecedented challenges due to the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic. The paper adopts a practice-based approach to examine the impact of Covid-19 on gold and gemstone artisanal and smallscale mining (ASM) practices in sub-Saharan Africa. It highlights the informality of ASM and discusses how the Ghana and Kenya governments' measures have significantly increased the vulnerabilities of the miners and mining communities. Based on a document analysis of the governments' responses to Covid-19, mining industry reports, and interviews with 29 mining stakeholders in Ghana and Kenya, the paper identifies the economic and social impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on gold and gemstone ASM in both countries. We highlight the key policy challenges and suggest actions that can help mitigate the negative impacts the pandemic has had on ASM, which include the need to address informality in the ASM sub-sector.

In a life full of risks, COVID-19 makes little difference. Responses to COVID-19 among mobile migrants in gold mining areas in Suriname and French Guiana

“…We contend that, in the interior regions of Suriname and French Guiana, gold mining populations continued to work not despite, but largely because of the informal nature of their work. Problems with food security as a result of COVID-19 measures, which have been reported in ASGM communities of different African countries ( Hilson et al, 2021 ; Muthuri et al, 2021 ), were not mentioned even once by gold miners working in Suriname and French Guiana. Only one cook in French Guiana mentioned that, due to the travel restrictions, her camp adapted its diet to eating more bush meat and fish, to complement the rice, beans and salted meat that have to be smuggled in from outside.…”

“…Comparative analysis suggests that differences in the economic impacts of COVID-19 on the ASGM sector are partly explained by differences in market access. Recent research articles report a dramatic widening of the gap between local and global commodity prices in gold and gemstone mining areas in different African, Asian, and Latin American countries ( Hilson et al, 2020 ; Muthuri et al, 2021 ). As a result, miners received less money despite soaring international gold prices.…”

“…One reason for the relatively limited impact of COVID-19 measures in the rural interior is simply that in these remote places, they were (and are) not enforced. In some countries, government efforts to combat the spread of COVID-19 prevented miners and buyers from reaching mines ( Muthuri et al, 2021 ). Undocumented gold miners working clandestinely in French Guiana ASGM areas, however, were hardly affected by lockdowns.…”

“…In this region, livelihoods of ASGM miners have been harmed by a falling local gold price; closing borders; closed schools that force women miners to stay at home or take children to the mines; a rise in local commodity prices; reduced access to food markets; and travel restrictions. Academic research and journalistic investigations in many different African, Latin American and Asian countries similarly report significant income losses in ASGM communities as a result of the pandemic ( Calvimontes et al, 2020 ; Hilson et al, 2021 ; Muthuri et al, 2021 ). Among others, COVID-related containment measures disrupted local supply chains and gold trade, which, in some regions, caused elevated prices for produce while at the same time lowering local prices for gold ( Hilson et al, 2021 ; Hilson and McQuilken, 2014 ; Persaud et al, 2017 ).…”

“…Among others, COVID-related containment measures disrupted local supply chains and gold trade, which, in some regions, caused elevated prices for produce while at the same time lowering local prices for gold ( Hilson et al, 2021 ; Hilson and McQuilken, 2014 ; Persaud et al, 2017 ). Threats to food security in ASGM communities have been documented in, among others, Kenya ( Muthuri et al, 2021 ) and Liberia ( Hilson et al, 2021 ).…”