Why is Ghana losing the war against illegal gold mining (Galamsey)? An artificial neural network-based investigations

Ghana, like most resource-rich countries, is saddled and inundated with resource curse challenges. Key among them is the problem of illegal small-scale gold mining activities (ISSGMAs), which is mercilessly robbing the nation of its ecological integrity, despite attempts by successive governments to remedy the situation. In the midst of this challenge, Ghana, year in and year out, performs abysmally on environmental governance score (EGC) variables. Against this framework, this study intends to uniquely establish the drivers behind Ghana's failure to overcome ISSGMAs. To achieve this, a total of 350 respondents were sampled through a structured questionnaire, with a mixed method approach from selected host communities, believed to be the epicenters of ISSGMAs in Ghana. The questionnaires were administered from March to August, 2023. AMOS Graphics and IBM SPSS vs 23 were used to analyze the data. In particular, the novel hybrid artificial neural network (ANN) and linear regression techniques were adopted to establish the relational linkages among the constructs of the study and their respective contribution to ISSGMAs in Ghana. The study displays intriguing results that explain why Ghana has failed to be victorious over ISSGMAs. In particular, the findings of the study demonstrate that the three key drivers of ISSGMAs in Ghana, in a sequential and consecutive order are as follows: bureaucratic licensing regime/weak legal framework, political/traditional leadership failures, and corrupt institutional officials. Moreover, socioeconomic factors and proliferation of foreign miners/mining equipment were also observed to contribute significantly to ISSGMAs. While the study contributes to the ongoing debate on ISSGMAs, it also proffers valuable and practical solutions to the menace as well as theoretical implications.