Mapping Ghana's expanding gold sector. Part one: The challenges of artisanal and small-scale mining

This report series analyzes the forces behind illegal mining in Ghana, its geographic expansion, and the networks that benefit from it. Drawing on three years of fieldwork, remote sensing, interviews, and desk research, Part 1 focuses on the Western and Savannah regions, showing how unlicensed artisanal and small-scale gold mining has increased in scale, sophistication, and environmental and social impact. Part 2 will delve further into the illicit gold supply chains and financial systems that sustain the trade.