Extractive economies in West Africa: recent trends and socio-political issues

During the last two decades, the African continent has experienced an impressive “mining boom” that has either revitalized long-term and established mining economies (such as Ghana, South Africa, Zambia) or allowed for new economies to emerge (such as new gold producers in West Africa). In the meantime, oil production has increased steadily from the 1980s. The growth of extractive industries, coupled to a general trend of economic liberalization and the emergence of new investors, has led to both enthusiasm and concern about a new “scramble for Africa”. Even beyond polarized representations, many issues appear as closely linked to the recent development of the extractive sector: transparency of contracts and accountability of national governments and private investors, the parallel growth of artisanal mining and its relations with the large-scale sector, urbanization and (un)employment in the areas concerned by mineral or oil production, its environmental impact or de-agrarianization effects.

SPEAKERS:

• Cristiano Lanzano, Senior researcher, The Nordic Africa Institute Robert Pijpers, PhD candidate at the University of Oslo and former NAI PhD scholarship holder
• Gisela Granado, Country Officer, EITI International Secretariat, Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, Oslo
• Hannah Owusu-Koranteng, Associate Executive Director, Wassa Association of Communities Affected by Mining (WACAM), Ghana

MODERATOR:

• Iina Soiri, Director, The Nordic Africa Institute

Register to this public seminar by sending a mail to [email protected] or via http://www.norad.no/aktuelt/arrangementskalender/

Invitation in English: http://www.norad.no/contentassets/971aa4ba43fc4349aa62a1c6563f97c8/nai-seminar-7-may-2015-in-oslo.pdf