The Ghana Sociological and Anthropological Association (GSAA) has urged the government to take firm and apolitical measures to end illegal mining in the country. In a communiqué issued at the end of its 10th Annual Conference at the University of Cape Coast, the Association described the destruction caused by illegal mining as "intolerable". The GSAA emphasized that ending illegal mining is critical to protecting water sources, farmlands, and community health, as well as preserving forests and biodiversity.
The GSAA's communiqué, signed by Professor William Boateng, Convenor of GSAA, called for immediate action to set appropriate standards for responsible mining. The Association stressed that effective enforcement of existing environmental regulations and clear, non-partisan policy direction are critical to stemming further degradation. The GSAA also urged mining-affected communities to negotiate robustly with mining companies to secure fair and adequate compensation.
The Association emphasized that well-negotiated compensation would help communities recover lost livelihoods, fund local rehabilitation and development projects, and establish legally documented arrangements to reduce exploitation and future disputes. Communities that insist on transparent compensation agreements, environmental restoration clauses, and monitoring mechanisms are better placed to protect their long-term interests, the GSAA added.
The two-day conference, held on the theme "Our Future at Serious Risk: Insights on Social Exclusion, Resource Extraction and Security in Contemporary Africa," brought together academics and researchers from major tertiary institutions in Ghana. Delegates deliberated on a range of social and policy issues, including resource extraction and social exclusion, the risky future of Ghana's public service, and environmental degradation from mining activities.
The GSAA also called for the completion of the country's decentralisation process, which it said remained incomplete because funds continued to be disbursed from the centre, often arriving late and undermining local planning and service delivery. The Association recommended that national and district development plans include a dedicated conflict analysis component covering environmental, social, economic, and political sources of tension.
To promote openness and inclusiveness in Ghana's public service, the GSAA called for the public advertisement of employment opportunities and selection through open and competitive processes rather than informal referral channels. The Association also urged an end to politicisation of appointments, warning that partisan selection practices do not promote inclusiveness or national cohesion.
The GSAA's recommendations are aimed at strengthening governance, reducing tensions, and improving development outcomes in Ghana and across the African continent. The Association emphasized that implementing these recommendations would promote fairness and inclusion into national development strategies and ensure that development policies go beyond national growth targets to promote the equitable distribution of opportunities across regions and social groups.
Key points
- GSAA urges government to take decisive action against illegal mining
- Association calls for completion of decentralisation process
- GSAA recommends open and competitive employment processes in public service
