How Economic Hardship Contributes to Galamsey in Ghana
Illegal small-scale mining, generally termed galamsey, has gradually become a major nuisance in Ghana, with its devastating effects on the environment and causing social revolts. Although the government has tried to put in some measures to discourage the occurrence, it is still being practiced in most parts of the country. Contributing factors to this are mostly economic difficulties. To the majority of Ghanaians who find themselves struggling to make ends meet, it is one of their few options. Galamsey thus becomes an attractive yet perilous means of gaining sustenance. In this blog, we shall see how economic hardship fuels galamsey and why addressing poverty is the key to solving this growing problem.
1. Lack of Employment Opportunities
Most parts of Ghana, especially the rural areas, have very limited formal employment opportunities. Many people, therefore, have no option but to indulge in this illegal mining as a result of high unemployment rates, particularly among the youth. Galamsey serves as an immediate, though really dangerous and environmentally destructive, way of earning money. When people try to get work but cannot, galamsey becomes an avenue for them to sustain themselves and their families.
2. The Allure of Quick Money
Another major attraction of galamsey is the possibility of quick and high earnings. This is in contrast to traditional farming or small-scale jobs, whose return has to be low. Galamsey can bring in high income in a very short time. When poverty bites, as has been evident in the country over the years, this becomes a very strong drive. Mostly, when people get desperate, they often stop worrying about long-term sustainability or legal implications but focus on immediate survival, which drives them to engage in illegal mining.
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3. Increasing Cost of Living
Living in Ghana is increasingly becoming unbearable, and most people find it difficult to make ends meet for basic living, getting food, shelter, and education. Economic stresses place individuals under great pressure that forces them, including persons probably engaged in other employment, into galamsey to supplement their incomes. For many, it is not just about survival but trying to get out of the poverty trap. Galamsey seems to be the way out when other opportunities are limited.
4. Inequality and Marginalization
Economic inequality has been the chief culprit in the perpetuation of galamsey. Most mining communities feel that the center has abandoned them. In this context, with minimal infrastructure, lack of access to social services, and an absence of opportunity for economic advancement, illegal mining has become a form of claiming due shares in this wealth lying beneath their feet. When left out of the mainstream economy, one is bound to practice illicit acts for survival.
5. Rural Poverty and Pressure on Land
Galamsey becomes the lifeline in rural regions where poverty tends to hit the most. Traditional farming, which usually is the backbone of most such rural communities, increasingly becomes burdensome because the environmental degradation, lack of resources, and change in climate conditions have been so out of hand. As agricultural yields dwindle, families are often left with little choice but to seek new livelihoods. Galamsey becomes attractive, even with its dangers, because it requires very little initial investment and potentially quick returns.
Conclusion
Galamsey in Ghana is essentially caused by economic hardship, so trying to deal with it without being opposed to such factors as poverty and unemployment is impossible. Enforcement and regulation can work; however, solving the real causes, like scarce employment opportunities and increased living costs, will go a long way in lessening illegal mining. What do you think can be done in order to reduce economic factors that drive galamsey? Share your views with us in the comment section below!
Source: Xtrememediaonline.com