76% of illegal mining convicts in six years are youth

Young people accounted for more than three-quarters of those convicted and imprisoned for illegal mining-related offences in Ghana between 2020 and 2025.

An analysis of the figures shows that 123 of the 163 people convicted during the six years were between the ages of 18 and 35. This represents approximately 75.5 per cent of the total.

Data available to Dennislaw shows that people between the ages of 26 and 35 recorded the highest number of convictions, with 70 inmates. Another 53 convicted persons were between the ages of 18 and 25.

Together, the two age groups accounted for more than three times the 40 inmates who were between the ages of 36 and 75. The older inmates represented the remaining 24.5 per cent of those covered by the data.

Among them, 26 were between the ages of 36 and 45, while eight were aged between 46 and 55. Five inmates were between 56 and 65, with only one person falling within the 66-to-75 age group.

The figures also show that convictions for illegal mining-related offences were overwhelmingly concentrated among men. Of the 163 people convicted, 161 were male, while only two were female.

Annual figures indicate that 18 people were convicted in 2020. The number rose to 35 in 2021 and peaked at 43 in 2022.

Convictions subsequently declined to 32 in 2023, 21 in 2024 and 14 in 2025.

This is deeply troubling and calls for urgent intervention. The government must adopt proactive policies that provide sustainable alternative livelihoods for young people in mining communities, particularly those who may otherwise be drawn into illegal mining. Without such measures, the country risks facing serious social, economic and environmental consequences in the years ahead.