Strengthening Governance Frameworks for Sustainable Resource Management: A Case Study of Mining, Petroleum, and Forestry Governance in Ghana

Abstract

Natural resources are central to Ghana’s development, yet governance of mining, petroleum, and forestry remains uneven despite strong formal legal and institutional frameworks. This paper examines resource governance through polycentric governance theory and the resource curse thesis, drawing on legislation, government data, Afrobarometer surveys, mining scorecards, EITI reports, and an original stakeholder survey (N = 100) covering miners, community members, traditional leaders, District Assembly officials, regulators, and civil society representatives in an active mining district. Findings show that governance frameworks are weakened by fragmented responsibilities, weak enforcement, limited transparency, and widespread illegal small-scale mining (galamsey). In 2025, small-scale miners produced more gold than large-scale mines for the first time in over a century, although most small-scale operations remain unlicensed. Governance effectiveness and community participation explained 56% of variance in perceived local benefits, while reform support was high across stakeholder groups. The paper calls for stronger institutional coordination, decentralized enforcement, fair benefit-sharing, independent monitoring, and better implementation of existing laws.