Inside Ivory Coast's hidden gold rush

Synopsis

Ivory Coast is experiencing a significant shift from traditional agriculture to a rapidly expanding gold mining industry. In the village of Yoho, farmer John Coo struggles with low cocoa prices, earning less than $10 for a sack of cocoa. To improve his financial situation, he turns to gold trading, a trend mirrored by many former farmers across the country. With over 150 artisanal mining sites, the gold rush has drawn hundreds of thousands of people, raising concerns about environmental and social impacts, particularly in towns like Nsoko.