Illegal mining drives Ghanaian children from classrooms into hazardous labour
A study by Solidaridad West Africa and the Minerals Commission has revealed that illegal mining is increasingly drawing schoolchildren from classrooms into hazardous labour in parts of the Eastern Region.
A recent study by Solidaridad West Africa and the Minerals Commission has found that illegal mining is compelling schoolchildren in Ghana's Eastern Region to abandon their education for dangerous work. The research, conducted in April 2026 in the Atiwa West District, discovered children aged 10 to 17 years working at unregulated sites, subjecting them to unsafe conditions, toxic substances, and exploitation.
Poverty, peer pressure, the allure of quick cash, and inadequate parental oversight were identified as key factors driving children into mining. Children reported earning between GH¢100 and GH¢1,000 per day, depending on the work and access to mining profits. The study indicated that the financial gains from mining could lure children into labor, undermining their education and future prospects.
The Atiwa West District Education Directorate expressed concern over the mining's impact on school attendance, noting increased absenteeism, dropouts, and the belief that immediate income outweighs education. The district's Director of Education emphasized the long-term risks for children and their communities who forsake school for mining.
The study employed a participatory approach, involving local stakeholders in discussions and observations. In 2023, Solidaridad aided the Minerals Commission in creating a child labor eradication framework for Ghana's small-scale gold mining sector, and the two organizations are now piloting an incentive-based community initiative in Atiwa West to promote school attendance and provide sustainable livelihoods.
Ms. Monalynn Anokye-Bempah, the Principal Officer at the Minerals Commission's Gender Unit, stressed the importance of community-led solutions that address the social and economic factors driving children into mining. Ms. Rosemary Addico, Solidaridad's Programme Manager for Responsible Gold, stressed that ending child labor in mining communities requires more than enforcement, highlighting the need for collaborative efforts to tackle the root causes.
Written by urgent.news from MyJoyOnline Ghana's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
