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Illegal mining drives Ghanaian children from classrooms into hazardous labour
August 18, 2026
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Illegal mining drives Ghanaian children from classrooms into hazardous labour

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Policy
Opportunity
Growth

Key Points

  • A study by Solidaridad West Africa and the Minerals Commission reveals an increasing trend of schoolchildren in Ghana's Eastern Region being drawn into hazardous illegal mining activities.
  • Children aged 10-17 are exposed to dangerous conditions, toxic chemicals like mercury, exploitation, and abuse at unregulated mining sites.
  • Key drivers include poverty, peer pressure, the desire for quick income (GH¢100-GH¢1,000 daily), weak parental supervision, and a perception that mining offers greater immediate financial benefits than education.
  • This engagement leads to increased absenteeism, school dropouts, interrupted schooling, and broader social problems such as drug abuse, teenage pregnancy, and prostitution.
  • Solidaridad and the Minerals Commission are piloting an incentive-based child labour-free community initiative in Atiwa West, supporting a Child Labour Eradication Framework for Ghana's small-scale gold mining sector.

Why This Matters

This issue directly threatens Ghana's human capital development by jeopardizing the education and future of its youth, particularly in resource-rich regions. It undermines efforts to achieve sustainable development goals related to education and child protection, potentially perpetuating cycles of poverty and hindering long-term economic growth and social stability across affected communities.

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