Page 45 - Apmor 2018

artisanal mining mining

as Ghanaians. Their use of heavy machinery Moreover, galamsey can set in motion a vicious Local activists report collusion between district
has increased both extraction rates and circle in terms of employment. Mining often police and illegal miners. They suggest the
environmental damage. occurs in cocoa farming regions and can lead police gain significant financial benefit from
to the seizure of land and environmental protecting, or turning a blind eye to, the
In the span of only a few years, Ghana
has attracted an estimated 50,000 “gold destruction. Both of these outcomes further industry. Many of the guns used by Chinese
seekers” from China, almost exclusively from erode the viability of agriculture, leading to the mining groups are also reportedly purchased
Shanglin County in Guangxi province. This local population’s deepening dependence on from the police themselves.
so-called “Shanglin gang” has settled in rural illegal mining for income. Clamping down
regions, creating predominantly Chinese Seeking to ban metals mining, or even artisanal
mining communities. Across three of these small-scale mining alone, thus ignores the key These factors have led to growing clamours for
key galamsey hubs, adverts and signs are role the sector plays in providing livelihoods for the government to properly tackle galamsey
in Mandarin while televisions in Chinese the most vulnerable. This is especially the case and punish those involved. The media outlet
restaurants show Chinese soap operas. in a country where unemployment amongst Citi FM launched a #StopGalamseyNow
15-24 year-olds stands at around 50%. campaign this April, while key national media
houses jointly established the Media Coalition
The Chinese working community Lost revenues Against Galamsey.
is believed to be highly organised Illegal mining also results in huge sums of lost These campaigns have thrust the issue onto
and hierarchical, with one kingpin revenue. In 2016 alone, an estimated $2.3 the centre stage, and the government appears
allegedly employing over 300 billion worth of gold left the shores of Ghana to be responding accordingly.
through galamsey. The illicit trade avoids
Chinese migrant workers together taxation and the prevalence of foreign actors
with a number of Ghanaians. means that profits typically flow out of the Previous administrations have
country. been accused of tempering their
resistance to galamsey due to
Many believe these communities to be A number of sources suggest that gold is mostly China’s heavy investment in
hostile to locals, although recent government smuggled to China and India. At the same time, the country. But the current
crackdowns appear to have encouraged co- illegally mined gold can easily make its way administration seems to be avoiding
operation. This is reflected by an increasing into the formal supply chain. Under Ghana’s
number of Ghanaians speaking fluent regulations, gold dealers are not required this pitfall.
Mandarin. by law to guarantee that their gold is legally
mined. This means that even licensed brokers
Jobs and crime buy and sell gold without regard to its origin. Following arrests of illegal miners, Chinese
officials called on the government to “guide
Galamsey, and the informal communities it The loss of revenue to the state is particularly the media to give an objective coverage on
creates, is associated with a rise in crime and critical as the government is struggling to fund the illegal mining issue” and complained of
violence. Police have said that the number oversight mechanisms. Reducing illicit financial “distorted or biased reports and stories on
of armed robberies has risen in illegal mining flows would greatly contribute to the state’s Chinese people”. It also suggested that any
areas, often with guns brought in by the resources and its ability to deploy much- casualties incurred from the arrests would be
Chinese to protect themselves. needed development initiatives. “extremely harmful to the bilateral relations”.
Along with the growing presence of weaponry, Police collusion Rather than placating China, however, Ghana’s
the trafficking and use of narcotics has also Information Minister responded that “the
increased. Another senior police official told In both 2006 and 2013, the Chinese threat or whatever does not bother me
the authors that a proportion of the cocaine at all”. Media representatives confirmed to the
and methamphetamine trafficked through government organised swoops on authors that the government has not “guided”
Ghana is directed towards galamsey miners. illegal gold miners. But while these them to temper their reports. The tone of this
He explained that workers use these drugs in raids resulted in the arrests of response suggests a shift in attitudes.
order to “give them courage” and help survive hundreds of Chinese miners, they
long hours in dire conditions. Such drug use only captured low-level workers As well as standing up more forcefully to
proliferates in informal and illegal gold mining China, the administration launched the five-
camps in South America. As Ghana becomes a who were easily replaceable and year Multilateral Mining Integrated Project
key narcotics trafficking transit state, patterns had no useful intelligence into this March. This initiative seeks to direct
repeat themselves. broader operations. small-scale miners towards areas where the
presence of gold has been confirmed and
where destruction caused by mining can be
As profits and goods from galamsey In addition, the quick release of many of those limited. The government also said it will use
detained has led to allegations of widespread
enter the supply chain informally, police corruption. In one case in 2017, a computer software to track earth-moving
equipment used in the illicit activity and may
there is also a high risk that Chinese national not only allegedly escaped consider using drones to monitor the activities
proceeds will be diverted towards from prison after being arrested, but soon had of illegal gold miners.
other crimes. his car, which had been seized by police at the The three-week ultimatum issued in April
time of arrest, returned to him. meanwhile led to over 500 excavators and

AFRICAN POWER Mining & Oil Review Vol 21, Issue 20, 2017 | 45