A New Gold Rush: The Boom in World Prices Has Fueled a Gold Rush Across West Africa; but There Are Worrying Trends

“All that glitters is not gold~ may be a tired old saying but for citizens and communities across West Africa this holds a meaning that is as literal as it can get. The region has seen gold production go up as prices have risen sharply over the last decade.

However the riches have been elusive and indeed gold has intensified conflicts, breeding criminality and is having a negative impact on agriculture and biodiversity. Gold prices have glittered but the impact has been anything but golden.