Interrogating the Impact of Illegal Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining on Agriculture at East Akim Municipality

Abstract While illegal artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) supports many Ghanaians’ livelihoods and contributes to the country’s mineral richness, its uncontrolled and unlawful nature results in various negative repercussions. This is particularly concerning because it is considered a key sector of Ghana’s economy, employing about a third of its workforce in 2023. For this reason, the following article examines the impact of illegal mining on agriculture in the East Akim municipality of Ghana using qualitative and quantitative research methods. Through a three-stage sampling technique, 40 smallholder farmers selected from ten communities at the East Akim Municipality participated in the questionnaire survey in January-July 2023. In addition, four interviews were conducted with leaders and officials from the East Akim Municipal Assembly on the topic surveyed. Findings represented by the descriptive statistical methods confirmed that illegal mining has resulted in mass land degradation, pollution from toxic chemicals, continuous flooding, and soil erosion, adversely affecting agriculture productivity in the region.