1. Introduction. In a global context, artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) is critical in poverty reduction. The ASM sector is a viable pathway for creating sustainable livelihoods and poverty alleviation initiatives, specifically in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) (Osumanu, 2020, p. 209; Mhangara et al., 2020).According to estimations, at least 40 …