Development initiatives focused on illegal artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) typically assume that formalisation will address environmental degradation and poverty. But there is little research on legal small-scale miners' (SSMs) perceptions of their environmental impacts, or on demographic characteristics that should inform development programmes. Based on a survey of 137 legal SSMs, this study analysed the perceptions and practices of legal SSMs within the context of an accountability, rule of law and anti-corruption programme, with an environmental governance subtheme, in Ghana. Data suggest that formalisation may not be a panacea for improving environmental governance, findings with policy and practical implications for development programmes.
This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Botchwey, Gabriel, Nest, Michael and D'Emidio, Riccardo (2022) Working with legal small-scale miners: implications for development. Journal of International Development. pp. 1-15. ISSN 0954-1748 which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1002/jid.3726. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Use of Self-Archived Versions. This article may not be enhanced, enriched or otherwise transformed into a derivative work, without express permission from Wiley or by statutory rights under applicable legislation. Copyright notices must not be removed, obscured or modified. The article must be linked to Wiley’s version of record on Wiley Online Library and any embedding, framing or otherwise making available the article or pages thereof by third parties from platforms, services and websites other than Wiley Online Library must be prohibited.