"Does Small-Scale Mining Contribute To The Economies Of Developing Countries?" The Case Of Ghana

The impact of small-scale mining in the economic growth and development of many mineral rich countries cannot be over emphasized. However, this has not received the desired attention and focuses over time as most host governments tend to focus more on the large-scale mining companies thereby, neglecting the salient role and contribution of Small-scale miners. This paper focuses on small-scale mining with particular reference to the Ghanaian mining sector which is largely driven by gold and diamonds. Small-scale mining in Ghana has immensely contributed to the GDP of the Ghanaian economy by creating jobs, alleviating poverty and earning foreign exchange revenue for the government. This paper evaluates whether or not small-scale mining contributes to the economy of Ghana.