Illegal gold mining is an acute problem in Ghana. Activities of illegal miners threaten the environmental and social unity of the country. This research, however, highlights illegal mining threats to the national security of Ghana. Economically, the Government of Ghana is losing revenue from the gold mining sector because illegally mined gold is smuggled out of the country. Illegal miners are destroying cocoa farms, the critical cash crop that generates foreign exchange for the country. Illegal mining has destroyed several forest reserves and farms, and also resulted in the pollution of rivers which serve as sources of potable water. Ghana's physical security is under threat as illegal miners acquire firearms to defend their activities. The study concludes that, like the Democratic Republic of Congo, illegal mining is fueled by unemployment and poverty. Hence, in order to minimize illegal mining and protect the national security of Ghana, there is the need for government, civil society and other stakeholders to find alternative sources of livelihood for the illegal miners and also educate them about the national security implications of their actions.

Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited. The opinions and conclusions expressed herein are those of the student-authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College or any other governmental agency. (References to these studies should include the foregoing statement.)