Unlicensed Gold Mining, Trade Leave Northern Ghana Exposed to JNIM Terrorists, Says Report
Ghana’s northern gold-mining belt is increasingly vulnerable to exploitation by violent extremist groups, according to new research that highlights the security risks posed by unregulated mining and illicit gold trade.
A study published on December 3 by the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organised Crime (GI-TOC), a Geneva-based non-profit organisation, warns that the informal nature of artisanal and small-scale gold mining in northern Ghana could be exploited by Jama’at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM), the Sahel’s most powerful extremist group.
Titled “Violent extremist threats to northern Ghana’s gold sector,” the report identifies unlicensed mining activities, porous borders with Burkina Faso, and opaque financial networks as key factors creating openings for extremist infiltration, financing and logistical support.
According to the study, unlicensed gold mining is widespread across northern Ghana, particularly in Wa and Tumu in the Upper West Region.
Mining operations in these areas are largely informal, with new sites often established quickly based on word-of-mouth information about gold-bearing locations.
The report notes that such operations are highly mobile, poorly regulated and dependent on a trial-and-error approach, making monitoring and law enforcement difficult.
Researchers warn that these conditions mirror patterns observed in parts of the Sahel, where extremist groups have exploited artisanal mining communities to generate revenue, launder funds and build local influence.
While there is no confirmed evidence that JNIM is currently operating mining sites in Ghana, the study cautions that the existing vulnerabilities could be leveraged if left unaddressed.
Ghana is one of Africa’s leading gold producers, and mining plays a central role in the country’s economy.
The sector operates mainly through two channels: large-scale industrial mining and artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM), which employs hundreds of thousands of people, particularly in rural areas.
However, the report notes that the informal and largely cash-based nature of the ASM sector, combined with weak oversight of gold trading networks, creates opportunities for criminal actors to move and monetise gold with little traceability.
The study further warns that Ghana’s proximity to Burkina Faso where JNIM has expanded its influence amid worsening insecurity increases the risk of cross-border spillover, especially in border communities with limited state presence.
The researchers urged Ghanaian authorities to strengthen regulation of artisanal mining, improve border security and enhance financial oversight within the gold supply chain.
They also recommended increased community engagement to prevent extremist groups from exploiting economic grievances in mining areas.
The report comes amid growing regional concern over the southward spread of violent extremism from the Sahel into coastal West African states, including Ghana, Togo and Benin.
