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Subaltern environmentalism and small-scale mining reforms in Ghana: the new government's five-point strategy and a model for mining site reclamation

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  • Mensah, Albert Kobina
  • Tuokuu, Francis Xavier Dery

Abstract

Mineral extraction is a major driver of environmental degradation in many mining areas across the world. Regardless of scale, whether through basic tools or advanced technology, unsustainable mining practices result in significant ecological harm. In Ghana, government interventions to regulate the sector have largely been coercive, disproportionately targeting artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM), which is primarily undertaken by marginalized Ghanaians ‘digging for survival’. This study applies for the first-time the framework of subaltern environmentalism to evaluate the new Ghanaian government's five key strategies for addressing the challenges confronting the ASM sector: regulatory reforms, law enforcement, equipment seizures, stakeholder engagement, and land reclamation. This study examines the government's commitments and progress toward these policy objectives by analysing materials related to ASM reforms published between January and July 2025, coinciding with the government's first six months in office. The data included weekly news reports, official government communications, reports from recognized organisations, and expert commentaries. The study reveals that regulatory reforms, law enforcement, and land reclamation recorded the highest levels of activity and commitment from the government. We propose a concurrent reclamation model—an integrated approach that couples active mining with ongoing environmental rehabilitation—as an effective strategy for restoring and repurposing degraded mining sites.

Suggested Citation

  • Mensah, Albert Kobina & Tuokuu, Francis Xavier Dery, 2025. "Subaltern environmentalism and small-scale mining reforms in Ghana: the new government's five-point strategy and a model for mining site reclamation," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 111(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jrpoli:v:111:y:2025:i:c:s0301420725003046
    DOI: 10.1016/j.resourpol.2025.105762
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