Gendered Issues and Mining in Ghana: A Critical Perspective

Abstract

Mining has long occupied a central position in Ghana’s development trajectory, contributing significantly to employment creation, export earnings, and fiscal revenue. Gold mining has shaped national economic narratives, attracting foreign direct investment and positioning Ghana as one of Africa’s leading mineral producers. Yet, alongside these macroeconomic gains, mining has generated environmental degradation, social dislocation and governance challenges. While these issues are increasingly acknowledged in policy debates, the gendered dimensions of mining remain insufficiently interrogated. Extractive industries are often portrayed as gender-neutral economic activities, governed by technical, financial and geological considerations. However, feminist political economy and resource governance studies consistently demonstrate that mining is embedded
within gendered power relations that shape who gains access to resources, who bears environmental and social costs, and whose voices count in decision-making processes . In Ghana, these dynamics are particularly evident in artisanal and small-scale mining contexts, where regulatory gaps intersect with entrenched social norms. This editorial argues that gender inequality is not peripheral to Ghana’s mining challenges but is structurally embedded within the organization and governance of the sector. Addressing gendered injustices is therefore not only a matter of social equity but a prerequisite for sustainable mining governance and inclusive development.