“We Are Losing Our Identity as People”: The Impact of Mining on the Sociocultural Practices of People in Mining Communities in Ghana

Abstract

AbstractMineral exploration in Africa has generated debates as to whether it is a blessing or a curse. However, the ongoing deliberations have not yet interrogated the effect of mining on the cultural practices of people living in mining communities. Therefore, this study aims to fill this scholarly gap through an exploration of the consequences of mining on the culture of people living in mining communities in Ghana. For this qualitative study, twenty-eight opinion leaders from five mining communities were recruited. It was found that the negative effects of mining that are consistently reported in the literature have cultural ramifications. For instance, the seizure of farmlands, displacements from ancestral homes, relocations, and the introduction of deviant behaviors negatively impacted the culture and practices of people in the mining communities. The need for policymakers to consider the local culture in interactions between corporate and small-scale mining entities and communities is discussed.