GOLD MINING IN GHANA
Driven by poverty,
children all over the
world have to undertake
dangerous work to
support their families.
GOLD MINING IN GHANA
In Ghana over 10,000 children work in informal gold mining in order to
survive. They dig pits and tunnels by hand which can be about 3m
deep and 1m wide.
GOLD MINING IN GHANA
Tools such as pick axes and shovels are used to dislodge soil which is
collected in tin bowls.
GOLD MINING IN GHANA
The heavy bowls weighing up to 10kg are carried to the water to be
panned. Children carry these bowls to the water up to 20 times a day.
GOLD MINING IN GHANA
Children pan for gold at the water’s edge. They lower the bowls into
the water and shake them from left to right. This causes the gold,
which is heavy, to sink to the bottom of the pan. The soil at the top,
which is lighter, is swept away.
GOLD MINING IN GHANA
The gold at the bottom of the bowl is transferred into a smaller pan
and taken to be sold.
GOLD MINING IN GHANA
Children working in the gold mines earn an average of
5 Ghanaian Cedis a day, which is the equivalent of £1.50. But if they
don’t find gold, they work the entire day for nothing.