ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the range of entrepreneurial activities undertaken by youth in Small-scale mining (SSM). It draws on extensive fieldwork conducted in the recently established mining settlement of Kui in northern Ghana. Kui is a newly established mining settlement located in Bole District in the Northern Region, which did not exist prior to the discovery of gold. The chapter shows how SSM is an important source of livelihood for many young people, some of whom progress through the ranks within the sector while others use mining as a stepping stone to other income-generating activities. SSM has long existed in Ghana but has become more widespread in recent years linked to rising gold prices and the declining interest in agricultural activities, especially among the youth. The importance of the SSM sector in providing youth with livelihoods has been widely recognised by researchers and international organisations such as the World Bank.
