ECOWAS is preparing regulations on gold panning in West Africa

Audio 02:20

Operation of a gold mine in Burkina Faso.

Getty Images / Vostok

By: Olivier Rogez Follow

5 mins

West Africa is one of the continent's richest gold regions.

Gold fills the coffers of states like Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger or Ghana.

It supports hundreds of thousands of people who practice gold panning, often underground.

The artisanal mining of the yellow metal has many drawbacks, however, and ECOWAS wishes to better supervise it.

Community regulations will be proposed to ECOWAS authorities next year. 

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Half of the gold produced in West Africa comes from artisanal gold panning, and 10% of the population of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger makes a living from this activity.

But gold panning, often illegal, is a source of problems, according to Sediko Douka, the ECOWAS commissioner in charge of Mines and Energy.

It is a sector that has many challenges, such as the loss of revenue. On the social level, there is the health aspect since they work outside the rules. There are impacts on the environment and the preservation of ecosystems. There is the security aspect where, in addition to the violence and conflicts between natives and non-native populations, if we take the so-called “three borders” area, Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, terrorism takes a part. illegal gold panning resources for its financing

. "

However, gold panning provides a livelihood for hundreds of thousands of people and there is no question of depriving them of their activity. But ECOWAS wishes to supervise and regulate this sector. By relying for this on the experiences of countries in the sub-region such as Mali and Burkina Faso. “ 

For example, in April 2019, we took stock, where each Member State came to present its legal, regulatory and institutional framework. We took what is called

"

 good practices 

"

 found in countries like Ghana, which is the region's leading producer. But also those of Mali and especially of Brukina Faso. They are very careful about this illegal practice of gold mining. And we intend to draw inspiration from their laws in the community text that we want to develop

”, explains Sediko Douka.

In Burkina Faso as in Mali, Chambers of Commerce and agencies in charge of the gold mining sector have started to group gold miners into cooperatives and to delimit corridors where miners can work while respecting safety rules.

These policies are accompanied by fiscal incentives and aid for the mechanization of small mines.

For ECOWAS, the new law will also make it possible to harmonize the sub-regional group, and to better regulate the gold trade, by reducing fraud.

Sediko Douka hopes that the new community regulations will be adopted by the 15 member countries before the end of March 2022.

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