Dr Lydia Osei

Contact info losei@ug.edu.gh

About

Dr. Lydia Osei is a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Geography and Resource Development, University of Ghana. Her research broadly spans Natural and Mineral Resource Governance and Management with a special focus on Artisanal and small-scale mining, Youth Employment, Rural Livelihoods, and Gender. She has led and contributed to both local and internationally funded projects and published widely in reputable peer reviewed journals.

Dr. Osei is also a passionate educator, teaching both undergraduate and postgraduate courses in areas such as Regional Geography, Resource Analysis, Natural Resource Management, and Tourism. She supervises both undergraduate and postgraduate theses and acts as internal and external examiner for theses at both local and international institutions. In class, she is very much known for her interactive, friendly, and learner-centered teaching approach.

Beyond teaching and research, Dr. Osei actively participates in academic conferences, seminars, and workshops, both locally and internationally, contributing to policy dialogues and scholarly debates around resource extraction, resource management and governance, and youth futures in Africa.

Education

2018: PhD. Geography, University of Western Ontario, Canada.

2012: MSc. Applied Development Studies, University of Reading, UK.

2007: BA. Political Science and Sociology, University of Ghana, Ghana.

Research Interest

  • Natural and Mineral Resource Governance with a special focus on artisanal and small-scale mining
  • Youth employment and development
  • Rural livelihoods and development
  • Gender studies

RESEARCH PROJECTS

  • PI: 2024: Mercury use in Artisanal and Small-scale mining in Ghana. Project with funding from the Carnegie Corporation of New York under the BANGA-Africa Initiative.
  • Co-PI: 2022-2025: Economic and Health impact and the resilience of last mile populations in artisanal and small- scale mining unplanned settlements in Sub-Saharan Africa before, during and after COVID-19: The case of Ghana and Uganda. Funded by the International Development Research Center (IDRC), Canada. 
  • Co-PI: 2019-2020: Socio-economic impacts of natural resource extraction: the case of illegal mining and charcoal burning in the Eastern Region and Northern Region of Ghana respectively. Funded by USAID SERVIR

Publications

Journal Articles

  1. Kwagala, B., Chidwick, H., Mensah, D., Asiimwe, J. B., Wandera, S. O., Mutabazi, M., Osei, L., & Kapiriri, L. (2025). Determinants of sexually transmitted infections among adolescent girls and young women in artisanal and small-scale mining communities of Uganda. BMC Public Health, 25(1), 1-8.
  2. Osei, L. (2025). Mercury management in the Artisanal and Small-scale Mining (ASM) Sector: Whither Ghana?. Ghana Journal of Geography, 17(1), 30-35.
  3. Chidwick, H., Randolph-Koranteng, N., Kwagala, B., Mensah, D., Osei, L., Wandera, S. O., ... & Kapiriri, L. (2023). Exploring economic and health interventions to support adolescents’ resilience and coping in mining communities: A scoping review. The Extractive Industries and Society, 16, 101369.
  4. Osei, L., & Yeboah, T. (2023). Imagining a future from the pit: Future aspirations of young artisanal small-scale miners in rural northern Ghana. Cogent Social Sciences, 9(1), 2167316. 
  5. Osei, L., Arku, G. & Luginaah, I. (2022). “We Have Done Nothing Wrong”: Youth Miners’ Perceptions of The Environmental Consequences of Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining (ASM) in Ghana. The Extractive Industries and Society, 12, 101179. 
  6. Ablo, A.D., Osei, L., Jarawura, F.X. & Yaro, J.A. (2022).  Sacrificing the savannah woodlands for energy and livelihoods? Charcoal production in Ghana. Energy for Sustainable Development, 70, 549-559.
  7. Osei, L., Yeboah, T., Kumi, A. & Antoh, E.F. (2021). Government’s ban on Artisanal and Small-scale Mining, youth livelihoods and imagined futures in Ghana. Resources Policy, 71, 102008.
  8. Kangmennang, J., Osei, L., Ato-Armah, F., & Luginaah, I. (2016). Genetically modified organisms and the age of (unreason)? A critical examination of the rhetoric in the GMO public policy debates in Ghana. Futures, 83, 37-49.
  9. Osei, L., Amoyaw, J. A., Boateng, G., Boamah, S. A., & Luginaah, I. (2015). The paradox of water accessibility: understanding the temporal and spatial dimensions of access to improved water sources in Rwanda. Water, Hygiene and Sanitation for Development, 5 (4), 553 – 564. 
  10. Kangmennang, J., Osei, L., Mkandawire, P., & Luginaah, I. (2015). Circumcision status and time to first sex in Sub-Saharan Africa: Evidence from six Demographic and Health Surveys. Aids and Behaviour, 20 (11), 2514 – 2528. 
  11. Hilson, G. and Osei, L. (2014). Tackling youth unemployment in sub-Saharan Africa: Is there a role for artisanal and small-scale mining?. Futures, 62, 83-94 

b. Technical Reports

  1. Asante, K.A. & Osei. L. (2025). The Ecological Damage of Illegal Mining in Water Bodies and Forest Management in Ghana. Submitted to Media Foundation for West Africa.
  2. Yaro, J.A., Osei, L.  & Ablo A.D. (2020). Socio-economic and environmental impact of natural resource extraction in Ghana: the case of Artisanal and Small-scale Mining. Submitted to USAID-SERVIR.

CONFERENCES, SEMINARS AND WORKSHOPS

  1. Osei, L., (2025). Role of Stakeholders in fostering resilience and sustaining interventions for young miners in the ASM sector. Presenter, Project Dissemination Workshop.                          
  2. Osei, L., (2025). Training on AI Support for Teaching and Article Writing. Center for Teaching and Learning Innovation, University of Ghana.
  3. Osei, L., (2024). Energy Infrastructure and Community Livelihoods in Ghana. Project Inception Workshop.
  4. Osei, L., (2024). “Exploring interventions to chance adolescent health and economic resilience in mining communities. Insights from adolescents, key informants and the literature”. Paper presented at the 8th Social Sciences International Conference, 2024.
  5. Osei, L., (2024). Natural Resources Management and the SDGs. Ghana Geographers’ Association Conference, 2024. Session Chair.
  6. Osei, L., (2023). “Institutional Support and Capacity Strengthening in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic.” Participant, ESSA/PASGR Virtual Workshop 2023.
  7. Osei, L., (2023). Project Inception Workshop. Served as a convener at national-level event, 2023.
  8. Osei, L., (2023). IDRC Women Rise Projects. Participated as Co-Principal Investigator in this international workshop, 2023.
  9. Osei, L., (2022). “Enhancing Research Performance with Scopus and SciVal – Part 1: Author Profiles.” Participant, University of Ghana Balme Library Workshop 2022.
  10. Osei, L., (2021). “Equity in Food Systems Transformation.” Participant, SDSN Foresight4Food Virtual Webinar.
  11. Osei, L., (2021). “Gender, Migration, Property and the Law in Ghana: A Discussion on Some Recent Decisions by the Supreme Court.” Participant, Centre for Migration Studies.
  12. Osei, L., (2021). “What Future for Small-Scale Farming?” Participated in the SDSN Foresight4Food and Agricultural Policy Research in Africa, Virtual Webinar.
  13. Osei, L., (2021). Deans Seminar Series. Participant, University of Ghana, Accra, 2021.
  14. Osei, L., (2019). Gender Training Workshop. Participant, CEGENSA, University of Ghana, 2019.
  15. Osei, L., (2019). “Pedagogical Leadership in Africa, Western Hub Training.” Participant, PASGR Ghana National Workshop.
  16. Osei, L., (2019). “Rewiring for Transformation: Women as Powerful Agents of Change.” Participant, University of Ghana. 
  17. Osei, L., (2017). “All Die Be Die… Health Perceptions of Youth Miners in the Upper East Region of Ghana.” Paper presented at the Canadian Association of Geographers (CAG) Conference.
  18. Osei, L., (2017). “Motivations to Engage in Artisanal Small-Scale Mining: Tales from Youth in the Upper East Region of Ghana.” Paper presented at the Association of American Geographers (AAG) Conference.
  19. Osei, L., (2016). “We Can’t Stay Poor”: Rural Youth Motivations to Engage in Artisanal Small-Scale Mining in Ghana. Paper presented at the Canadian Association of Geographers (CAG) Conference.
  20. Osei, L., (2016). “The Land Belongs to Us, Why Should We Suffer?”: An Exposition on Strained Relationships Between Local and Foreign Miners in the Upper East Region of Ghana. Paper presented at the Canadian Association of Geographers, Ontario Division (CAGOnt) Conference.
  21. Osei, L., (2015). “We Have to Do Galamsey or We Also Go to the South”: Employment Strategies Adopted by Youth in the Upper East Region of Ghana. Paper presented at the Canadian Association of Geographers (CAG) Conference.
  22. Osei, L., (2015). “The Paradox of Water Accessibility: Understanding the Temporal and Spatial Dimensions of Access to Improved Water Sources in Rwanda.” Paper presented at the Association of American Geographers (AAG) Conference.

MEDIA ENGAGEMENTS

  1. Osei, L., (2025). When gold mining goes wrong: The dark impact of galamsey in Ghana. Expert interview by DW- The 77 Percent. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYq48kAG-EI
  2. Osei, L., (2025). Why child labour is so prevalent in Sub-Saharan Africa. Expert interview by DW Africa. https://www.dw.com/en/why-child-labor-is-so-prevalent-in-sub-saharan-africa/video-72638113