Nexus between Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining and Livelihood in Prestea Mining Region, Ghana
Table 5
Assets associated with ASM and miners.
Type of asset capital
Critical assets associated with or in ASM
Natural capital
(i) Land containing gold mineralization that enables mining activities to be undertaken. (ii) Forest providing timber/woods for the activities. (iii) Mineral deposits in the land/earth crust. (iv) Water bodies (such as rivers) for washing gold mineral materials and processing.
Physical capital
(i) Chemicals such as mercury and cyanide for processing and extracting gold. (ii) Equipment/tools used in operation—chisels, truck, shovels, hammers, touch lights, sacks, gold mill machines, bulldozers, water pumping machines, and excavators. (iii) Roads serving as a mode of transport for conveying miners, traders, and loads. (iv) Shelter camps at mining sites.
Human capital
(i) Men’s knowledge and skills applied in the extracting processes. (ii) People’s ability to work or function in ASM. (iii) Diverse group of people in the capacity as miners, drivers, trader, engineers, administrative staff, chisellers, and others. (iv) Physical strength of people used in ASM.
Financial capital
(i) Cash and income earnings as salaries or wage from the activities. (ii) Savings from the activities. (iii) Capital (loans) investment into ASM operations.
Social capital
(i) Miners’ and employees’ networking. (ii) Miners’ individual social relationships and friendship. (iii) Social organisations and kinship. (iv) Emotional support via comforting and others.
