West Africa’s complex artisanal gold mining industry faces major challenges. The pervasive informality of mining makes the sector vulnerable to criminal exploitation and limits its development potential.
Efforts to combat artisanal gold mining in West Africa have tended to follow a punitive approach of criminalisation and ‘crackdowns’. This seminar draws on extensive regional consultations to inform a discussion of alternative responses that can help countries harness the full potential of their gold mining sectors.
Simultaneous English-French-Portuguese interpretation will be provided.
Moderator: Robert Ali Tanti, Centre for Social Impact Studies, Ghana
Opening remarks: ECOWAS, European Union, Germany and GIZ representatives
Panelists:
- Gideon Osofu Peasah, West Africa Extractives Coordinator, Global Initiative against Transnational Organised Crime
- Representative, Mauritania Mining Commission (TBC)
- Dr Ishmael Quaicoe, Coordinator, Sustainable Artisanal and Small-scale Mining Hub, University of Mines and Technology, Tarkwa, Ghana
Image: © Erberto Zani / Alamy Stock Photo
