Communities Affected By Extractive Industry Cry For Help

Hannah Owusu-Koranteng, an Executive of WACAM explaining issues to participants.

Posted on: www.dailyguideghana.com

By William Yaw Owusu

Wednesday July 20, 2011.
Residents of communities affected by activities of the extractive sector including mining, oil and limestone explorations have recounted the harrowing experience they are encountering at the hands of multinational companies who operate in the sector.

According to them, the companies continue to exploit the country’s mining and minerals laws and regulation to impoverish the communities with impunity.

As a result, WACAM, an environmental Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) campaigning against irresponsible mining in the country, organized a workshop with funding from Ibis Ghana to build the capacity of opinion leaders in some of the affected communities.

The objective of the workshop was to train participants particularly women on how to assert their community’s rights under the mining and minerals laws and regulation of the country and also build their capacity to be part of all decision-making processes.

The first to pour out their frustrations over widespread violation of rights in the mining sector were Joseph Nyamikeh, Assembly Member of Bonyire and ST Awuah Secretary of Concerned Citizens Association of Jomoro in the Western Region, who complained bitterly about the treatment being meted out to people in their communities by state-owned Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC).

According to them, GNPC is in the process of constructing a gas processing plant that will cover the lands of several towns and villages including Bonyire, Ndum-Suazo, Kabenle-Suazo, Egbazo and Takinta but GNPC had failed to compensate those whose lands have been taken adequately.

They claimed that the GNPC is capitalizing on the current chieftaincy dispute in Bonyere in the Jomoro District to execute the project without taking into account the interests of community members, adding “we all welcome the project but the right thing must be done so that the people are adequately compensated.”

“We are mostly coconut farmers but our lands are being cleared for the project without due recognition. The buffer zone which was demarcated has also been taken over by the company.”

Nabot Gyeatuo Kyenkyenku, an Assembly Member of Saamang in the Fanteakwa District and Grace Obeng, another community leader in Saamang both protested against the activities of a company called Solar Mining which they claim did not have environmental permit but constructed a processing plant on their only source of water in the area.

They said the company uses the security agencies including police and military to brutalize residents anytime they raise concerns about the company’s activities.

“We are realizing that we have rights under the mining and minerals act and we want to assert our rights under the law. We want to commit our lands to cocoa farming which is sustainable.”

Micheal Okrah Amanor, Secretary Klo-Begoro Farmers Association in the Yilo Krobo District of the Eastern region and Christiana Dede Munyuhitumi, treasurer of the association complained bitterly about the activities of a company called AG Fang, which is believed to have been contracted by GHACEM to mine limestone.

“Our farms have started experiencing floods; there is widespread pollution, excessive and other environmental degradation and the activities of the company are threatening the existence of Klo-Begoro and surrounding communities.”

They claimed despite persistent appeals to GHACEM and it contractor to address the concerns of the affected farmers, the companies have refused to pay compensation to them and this has led to impoverishment in the area.

John Apenteng and Kwabena Dankyira Senior of Yayaaso and FB Asamoah of Adausena in the Birim North District where Newmont Ghana Limited, a mining giant has bought concession to mine the area alleged that the company was using every means to get the lands of families who did not want to be part of the project.

Hannah Owusu-Koranteng, an Executive of WACAM, who moderated the programme, called for urgent training to build the capacity of people in affected areas so that they can be able to point out the transgressions of multinational mining and oil and gas companies.