Abstract

The issue of illegal mining activities in Ghana has attracted the interest of both the international and local community. This work investigated the consequences of illegal mining activities on children’s basic education at some selected mining districts in Ghana. The study leveraged school attendance data which was gleaned from the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) Population and Housing Census platform. In addition, mining area data were sourced from literature and the Ghana Chamber of Mines (GCM). The research showed that minors’ education is affected substantially, upon their participation in mining activities. Specifically, the most glaring effect was on their basic education attendance. Further, parental pressure and poverty were among the primary cause reasons children engaged in illegal mining operations. Overall, community stakeholders were advised as a form of recommendation to focus more of their efforts on combating children's engagement in illegal mining activities.