2025/02/10 by Asare Akoto, Dorothy
#Illegal small-scale gold mining #actor-centered power theory #actors #power dynamics
paper · doi:10.48346/imist.prsm/ajlp-gs.v7i6.52080
Context and background Illegal gold mining, also known as "galamsey," has become a significant socio-economic and environmental issue in Ghana, deeply intertwined with questions of access to land and power dynamics. This paper presents a systematic literature review of the issue with the goal and objectives below. Goal and Objectives: The goal of the review is to identify, evaluate, and synthesize existing research on illegal gold mining and explore gaps that needs further research. The objective is to explore an appropriate framework for understanding the dynamics of power and access to land for the illegal small-scale gold mining. Methodology: To meet these objectives, relevant peer-reviewed articles were retrieved from scientific databases such as ScienceDirect, Scopus, and Google Scholar. The search was guided by keywords like “illegal small-scale gold mining,” “actors,” “access,” and “power.” Studies focusing on illegal mining, land access, and power theory from the past decades were selected. Titles and abstracts were screened to ensure relevance, and the chosen articles underwent detailed analysis. Results: Previous research on small scale mining has focused on four key themes: (1) Formalization, (2) Environmental Impact, (3) Land Use and Natural Resource Conflicts, and (4) Causes, and Drivers of Illegal Mining. The review confirms little studies in power and access issues pertaining to illegal gold mining. The theory of access and the actor-centered power framework were found useful for understanding the complexity of land access and power dynamics in illegal small-scale mining.