ABSTRACT
Insufficient information on mapped resources and data regarding the exploitation of Sub-Saharan Africa’s natural resources has restricted countries to poverty amidst vast geological wealth. Quashie (1996) observes that colonial governments put in place skewed mining leases that ensured that they retained mineral rights and tenure to the disadvantage of Sub-Saharan countries. The mining sector was used to develop the economies of western nations and the situation did not change even in the post colonial era (United Nations Economic and Social Council and Economic Commission for Africa 2009). Africans have largely been confined to the informal business sector due to reasons such as colonial legacy, post colonial paternalistic and ethnic political economy and the high cost of formalising business notes Kadenge
(undated). Increased global commodity prices do not capture the limited returns to African people due to the suffocating effect of mining agreements signed between African governments with foreign investors.
