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Title: Mining and its consequences in Akyem Abuakwa
Authors and Affiliations: Ababio Emmanuel Ofosu-Mensah1 1Department of History, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana Abstract: Gold mining in Akyem Abuakwa dates back to centuries and Abuakwa goldfields were one source of supply of gold to the European market before and during the colonial administration of the Gold Coast. The advent of colonialism and the introduction of modern scientific mining in Ghana during the last decade of the nineteenth century enabled European mining companies to gain control over the mining industry. But this did not supplant the indigenous miners whose activities survived up to today in auriferous and diamondiferous Abuakwa. This article will inter alia explain the consequences of both scientific or modern and small-scale mining popularly known in Ghana as galamsey in the Akyem Abuakwa state, it will also trace the etymology of the word Galamsey and provide valuable historical analysis of a modern day phenomenon. |
