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Highlights of the 6th Seminar in the Policy and Comparative Development Studies Seminar Series

Seminars
2022年2月10日

Policy and Comparative Development Studies Seminar Series

The sixth Policy and Comparative Development Studies Seminar Series was held on 20 January 2022. The seminar was presented by Mr. Arthur-Holmes Francis with the topic of ‘Occupying the Fringes: The Struggles of Women in Artisanal and Small-scale Gold Mining in Rural Ghana’.

The presentation revealed that there are gendered work patterns in Ghana’s ASM sector which result in gender pay gap. Women receive lower renumeration for their work in ASM compared to men. Women miners different experiences which are reflected in their status as married, never married and those with children. At the mine sites, there are poor work support services for women with children.  Besides, poor working conditions at the mine sites shows evidence of unequal gender power relations. Women miners do not have economic and legal right and are treated as labourers and encounter inter-ethnic discrimination by their employers. We can understand these on-site challenges of women in ASM through multiple standpoint and African feminism theoretical perspectives. Government and regulatory institutions need to promote gender mainstreaming for ‘inclusion of women’ in the management structure at mine sites. Lastly ASM operations need to be properly formalized to enhance gender-sensitive on-site regulatory policies, ensure safe working environments for workers, and provide locally appropriate work support services for women in ASM.

Policy and Comparative Development Studies Seminar Series