Our resource, others' wealth: the origins of legalized discrimination against local goldsmiths in Ghana

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Periodical article

Title:	Our resource, others' wealth: the origins of legalized discrimination against local goldsmiths in Ghana
Author:	Alhassan, Ishaq Akmey
Year:	2015
Periodical:	Ghana Studies (ISSN 1536-5514)
Volume:	18
Issue:	1
Pages:	121-135
Language:	English
Geographic term:	Ghana
Subjects:	gold mining legislation artisans gold colonial history
Abstract:	In Ghana, gold and diamond mining has been practiced for centuries. However, the local goldsmithing sector has declined since the start of the colonial era. This article discusses the three colonial laws on goldsmithing that were enforced in the Gold Coast by the British: the Gold Mining Products Protection Ordinance of 1909, the Gold Mining Products Protection (Licence Fees) Ordinance of 1932, and the Gold Mining Products Protection (Amendment) Ordinance of 1938. These laws limited local people's access to mining sites and mining products, thus enhancing foreign control of the mining sector and ensuring availability of African labor for European mines. This had a negative impact on the goldsmiths of the colony, and triggered various responses from local people. Bibliogr., notes, ref. [ASC Leiden abstract]