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Mining as a blessing to Africa’s next generation

As an engine of growth, Africa’s mining sector creates a potential ecosystem for poverty alleviation and accelerated development. However, its ecological footprints as well as mining-related conflicts in the sub-region necessitate a paradigm shift in our approach. To transition into a sustainable future, three principal catalysts of change will be indispensable to transformation: mining communities, institutions and industries.

Can Mining be a blessing for Africa?  

Thinking about the theme of the Walrus Talks, “Africa’s Next Generation,” an epiphany hit me! How can I speak about the future of Africa without sharing an African story?

Therefore permit me to share the story of my beloved country, Ghana, in west Africa. Have you ever seen the Ghana flag? And have you thought of the meaning of its colours?

Ghana Flag

Red reflects the blood and toil of our fathers who fought for our independence.

Green represents rich forest ecosystems and other renewable natural resources — flora and fauna biodiversity.

The Black Star represents our identity and pride as Ghanaian “Black People.”

Yellow is a reflection of the abundance of gold: the focus of this talk.

Did you know that before her independence in 1957, Ghana was known as the Gold Coast? Oo Yes!

Over the years, the abundance of gold resources has attracted various multi-national mining investors into Ghana. Gold has also motivated a localized mining sector known as Artisanal and Small Scale mining — popularly known as Galamsey in Ghana, meaning “Gather and Sell.”

Yes! Just gather gold and sell.

But the question is “Has mining indeed, been a blessing or curse for Africa?”

Is there need for a change? If there is, which paradigm shifts will drive such transformation?

It is obvious that the mining industry presents enormous socio-economic opportunities for the development of Africa. The artisanal and small scale mining sector employs over one million Ghanaians and contributed to about 32% of total gold export in 2013. The story is not different in other African countries. In DR Congo, the sector employs over two million people. Time wouldn’t allow speaking of Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Tanzania and Burkina Faso.

As the engine of growth, the mining sector creates a potential ecosystem for poverty alleviation and accelerated development in the sub-region.

Per the Africa Bank report (2014), minerals account for an average of 70% of Africa’s total exports and about 28% of GDP. Moreover, with the world population to reach over nine billion by 2050, Africa’s mining sector will be pivotal in meeting the technological demands of the fast-paced world.

Notwithstanding, the ecological foots as well as conflict complexities associated with the industry raises critical questions as far as the future of Africa is concerned.

Currently, the mining industry is one of the leading causes of land degradation in the sub-region. Mercury pollution, mine spillages and depletion of arable land by small-scale miners are but a few of the challenges resources managers and mining communities must deal with every day. The cumulative effects of land and water systems depletion pose threats on the human and ecological health on the continent. Our once green and rich forest ecosystem as indicated in green on our flag is almost lost! What does the future hold for Africa, if the trajectory continues?

This depletion trend hinders global climate change mitigation targets such as the ‘Bonn Challenge’ meant to restore about 150 million hectares of the worlds deforested and degraded lands by 2020 and 350 million hectares by 2030.

What, then, should be the focus of the next generation?

Eco-centrists are of the view that environmental conservation should be the focus of the next generation. But do we conserve resources and protect the environment, when about 50% of graduates from African institutions don’t have jobs?

Anthropocentrists would emphasize that human needs and job creation should be paramount for the next generation. What then happens to our ecosystems?

Technocentrists would argue that technology should be the driver of change in Africa. But history reveals an inverse relationship between an increase in technological use and employment prospects of local mining communities. Apparently, indigenous communities lack the requisite competency to compete in such expert-orientated markets.

It is quite clear that the complexities of mining issues make it impossible to be solely handled by a single dimension of thinking.

The transition to a more sustainable future requires a paradigm shift in our approach to small-scale mining in Africa. It is imperative that interventions aimed at improving the sector focus on bridging the communication gap and coordination among the key players. Three principal catalysts of change will be indispensable in initiating this transformation: mining communities, institutions and industries.

Alfred Baafi Acheampong is a Mastercard Foundation Scholar, environmental systems professional, and entrepreneur. He co-founded the Land Reclamation and Environmental Conservation Society. This talk was part of “Mastercard Foundation presents The Walrus Talks Africa’s Next Generation.” Filmed on September 21, 2017, in Toronto’s Isabel Bader Theatre.

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