Sustainable Livelihoods in Artisanal Small-Scale Mining Communities: a Case Study of Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipality of Ghana (original) (raw)

Mining and its related activities usually attract people to host communities. High population and intense mining activities pose numerous challenges to land use management. The study examined the planning responses to the land use challenges in mining communities in the Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipality of Ghana. The case study research approach was used to address the research objectives. The study covered the Tarkwa township and its peripheral communities, such as Nsuta, Tamso, New Atuabo and Abonteakoon (Akoon), which were purposively selected. The paper reveals that mining in the Municipality has resulted in increased population without corresponding infrastructure and related services. Due to the intense nature of mining activities coupled with increased population, there has been strong competition over available lands which have resulted in changing land uses outside formal planning schemes, encroachments, and building in waterways and wetlands. The study recommends among others, an effective collaboration between the traditional leaders and city authorities to clearly define the mandate of each stakeholder within the urban land market. There is also a need to build institutional capacity and contextualize planning ideals as key for managing rapidly growing mining towns in emerging economies.