DAAD Alumni holds two-day workshop on artisanal, small-scale mining in Wa

The DAAD Alumni Association has held a two-day workshop in Wa in the Upper West Region to discuss responsible management of artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM), with calls for stronger regulation, community participation and collaboration among stakeholders.

The workshop, held under the theme “Managing Small-Scale and Artisanal Mining: A Community Mining Perspective in Northern Ghana,” brought together DAAD alumni, mining industry experts and regulators, academia, security agencies and traditional authorities.

The event, which began on Friday, September 4, 2026, provided a platform for stakeholders to examine the opportunities and challenges associated with artisanal and small-scale mining and explore approaches to making the sector more responsible and sustainable.

Convenor of the workshop, Benjamin Naah, said ASM remains an important source of livelihoods and supports local economies, particularly in communities where alternative employment opportunities are limited.

He, however, noted that when poorly managed, mining activities can create serious environmental, social, health and economic challenges.

According to him, the workshop was therefore intended to deepen discussions around regulation, monitoring, community participation and effective implementation of policies governing the sector.

Dr Issah Baddianaah with the Department of Local Government and City Management of the University of Bisiness and Integrated Development Studies (UBIDS) identified weak regulation and administrative challenges as some of the factors contributing to illegal mining.

He attributed the situation to issues including high registration fees, delays in processing mining permits, political ambivalence, corruption and the top-down approach to licence acquisition.

Dr Baddianaah, formerly of William V.S. Tubman University in Liberia, also cited increasing participation of foreigners in artisanal and small-scale mining and weak law enforcement as concerns requiring urgent attention.

He called for a more concerted and collaborative approach involving government institutions, mining communities, traditional authorities and other relevant stakeholders to address the challenges.

The Minerals Commission District Officer for the Wa Mining District, Prince Boateng Danso, said the scale of artisanal and small-scale mining makes it both an important livelihood activity and a major environmental concern.

He noted that more than one million Ghanaians are engaged in ASM, with each miner having several dependants whose livelihoods are indirectly tied to the sector.

Mr Danso also cautioned prospective miners against middlemen who make the licensing process appear more costly and cumbersome.

He urged people interested in mining to deal directly with the Minerals Commission and seek proper information on the licensing process.

For his part, Kuoro Abu Diaka Sukabe Ninia V, Paramount Chief of Zini Traditional Area and Vice President of the Upper West Regional House of Chiefs, called for stronger participation of traditional authorities and host communities in mining decisions.

He argued that communities should not be brought into the process only after mining licences have been granted, stressing the importance of early community entry and dialogue.

According to him, traditional authorities and communities have important knowledge of land ownership structures, local interests and potential conflicts and should therefore be involved before mining activities begin.