Study on the Involvement of Children in Surface Mining in Mpohor Wassa East District, Western Region, Ghana

ABSTRACT

This report provides an insight into the involvement of children in surface mining activities. It endeavors to throw more light on the roles played by children in surface mining and the dangers faced by such children and the long term effect on their education and health.The objectives of the study were to examine the living conditions of children in the study area, roles assigned to children in mining activities; the working conditions of such children; the effects of involvement mining on children; programmes undertaken by government agencies and child focus NGOs in the Mpohor Wassa East District Assembly (MWEDA) to address involvement of children in mining. The study also provides information on what can be done to reduce involvement of children in mining in the study area.The data for the study was collected from the Mpohor in the MWEDA in the Western Region of Ghana and is based on interviews with 100 children; 58 boys and 42 girls. Three focus group discussions were held; one for children and two for adults. The study employed basic and simple statistical tools to analyse the data. Bivariate analysis is the main analytical tool used.One of the key findings of the study is 32% of the children interviewed were engaged in surface mining at the time of the study, suggesting that, for every three children in the study area, one is in involved in surface mining a situation which is very alarming. The study revealed a higher involvement of boys, 19 than girls, and 13. Education profile of the children engaged in mining activities shows that 23 of out of 32 children are in school as compared to 61 out of 68 children not engaged in surface mining activities.A major recommendation of the study is the need for programmes targeting parents’ economic background to be pursued by relevant agencies to reduce their dependence on the income brought in by children.