Child Labour in Small-scale Gold Mining in Ghana:: a Case Study of Prestea in the Wassa West District

Child labour tends to destroy children who constitute the potential work force and responsible leaders in the future for national development. Even though child labour has been with humanity for many centuries, it has attracted global attention over the past three decades. Gold is an important natural resource that is used in various ways to satisfy human needs. Its extraction is cumbersome and hazardous and therefore, should be the preserve of adults. However, children are engaged in small-scale gold mining in Ghana, thereby exposing them to the dangers which have the potential to destroy their future. This book examines the causes and effects of small-scale gold mining in Prestea township in Ghana. The main causes of child labour from our empirical study include poverty, irresponsible parenthood and inadequate access to education. The book therefore, calls for a collaborative strategy efforts by all stakeholders towards eliminating child labour in small-scale mining.