Governing the ASM-farming nexus Prospects for integrated and inclusive landscape governance in Ghana

Artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) and farming are key land-based livelihood activities for rural smallholders in sub-Saharan Africa. Although scientific interest in the interactions between ASM and farming is growing, much of the literature assumes their complementarity, often overlooking the complexity of how land and gendered labour shifts between the sectors affect agricultural production. The existing literature remains inconclusive on whether ASM income enhances agricultural investments or whether adverse environmental effects, such as land degradation and water pollution, undermine food and agricultural production. Moreover, this nexus has seldom been studied from a landscape and integrated landscape governance perspective. This thesis examines the ASM-farming nexus through an integrated and inclusive landscape governance lens, analysing trade-offs between the sectors, their effects at the landscape, household, and governance levels, with particular attention to how landscape actors perceive these dynamics. Drawing on qualitative, quantitative, spatial data, and policy analysis, the study shows that although ASM-farming trade-offs generate both benefits and costs, agriculture experiences greater losses. Landscape-level impacts are closely tied to how ASM is integrated into smallholder livelihood strategies. The research further reveals that governance of the ASM-farming nexus in Ghana is highly fragmented, with isolated sectoral policies lacking coordination. This weakens governance effectiveness and enables negative trade-offs, including environmental degradation and livelihood disruption, to persist. Despite these challenges, the study demonstrates that integrated and inclusive landscape governance offers a promising way forward. Strengthening governance of the ASM-farming nexus is essential for Ghana, as trade-offs directly influence SDGs 1, 2, 6, and 15.