Religion and the fight against illegal small-scale mining in Ghana a case of Abuakwa North District

Abstract

Successive governments in Ghana since independence have adopted various measures to end illegal small-scale mining in the country. Yet all these measures over the years have proved futile. This study sought to examine various ways by which religious beliefs can be used to assist the fight against small-scale mining. To achieve the set objective, the study adopted qualitative approach to research for the gathering and analysis of the data. In all, fifteen participants were interviewed for the study. It was discovered that religious beliefs can be an effective tool if religious leaders use their pulpit to educate their members regularly, suspend members who do galamsey, and also name and shame those of their members who engage in illegal small-scale mining in their meeting places. It was therefore recommended that, the use of religious beliefs to assist the fight against illegal small-scale mining can only be effective if it is used together with other political measures that have been used over the years for the fight.