British Journal of Research Open Access

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Abstract

Effects of Loss of Agricultural Land Due to Large-Scale Gold Mining on Agriculture in Ghana: The Case of the Western Region

Stephen Doso Jnr, Grad CIEEM, Abraham Ayensu-Ntim, Boakye Twumasi-Ankrah and Prince Twum Barimah

Objective: This study investigates and describes the effects of loss of agricultural land due to large-scale gold mining on agriculture in Ghana.
Method: The study was a desk review of secondary data including peer-reviewed journals, ebooks, conference proceedings, multinational company reports, and ministry and NGO reports. The data was analysed using qualitative content analysis.
Results: Analysis of the agro-based alternative livelihood programmes (ALPs) provided by large-scale gold mining companies to their stakeholder communities showed high start-up cost, insufficient earnings and lack of proper consultation hindered their success. The agro-based ALPs were also found to be focused on cash crop development to the neglect of traditional food crops. A case study of the Tarkwa Nsuaem Municipality of the Western Region revealed a trend of decreasing agricultural land on mining companies' concessions as mining related activities increased. This contributed to joblessness and the loss of labour from agriculture to other livelihoods in the mining communities.
Conclusion: The study concludes that the effects of loss of agricultural land due to large-scale gold mining on food crop production in the mining communities can be substantial. This can affect food crop production in Ghana in the longer term, as the mining communities are also important food production centres.