Towards sustainable food crop production: Drivers of shift from crop production to mining activities in Ghana's Arable Lands

•Arable lands have been converted into artisanal small-scale mining (galamsey) sites.•Food crop production now competes with mining activities for land and labour in Ghana.•Household size and low crops yield positively influence participation in mining.•Access to credit and FBO membership negatively influence participation in mining.•Government should improve access to credit and improved crop varieties to farmers.