Mercury: An agent of poverty in Ghana's small-scale gold-mining sector?

摘要: Abstract There is consensus worldwide that the artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) sector comprised of individuals who are trapped in a vicious cycle poverty, lacking necessary financial technological means to improve their standards living. Minimal work, however, has been undertaken identify very factors behind miners’ plight, which inevitably vary from country country. This paper uses case study Ghana argue an increased dependence upon mercury for amalgamation gold-mining communities one such—albeit overlooked—“agent poverty”. mounting empirical evidence suggests dealings with monoponistic middlemen supply mercury, purchases costly medicines remedy ailments caused by poisoning, lack appropriate safeguards alternatives amalgamation, preventing gold miners improving practices livelihoods. The solution problem lies breaking this dependency, can be achieved providing robust support services, mercury-free technologies education.