This trend could result in something dangerous if appropriate measures are not followed to educate both the mining companies and the community members.
Ribeiro-Duthie once said, despite the positive contribution of small-scale gold mining to community and national development, it is often associated with violence and a wide range of human rights concerns that cannot be overlooked.
Martin Kornberger in 2015 also said, “Poorly regulated small-scale mining activities have impacted negatively on communities and impinge on the rights of workers, women, and children.
Some of the above reasons and more have pushed the Executive Director for Northern Patriots in Research and Advocacy (NORPRA) Mr. Ayorogo Bismark to organize a community sensitization forum for the people of Sherigu a mining community under the Bolgatanga Municipal in the Upper East Region on the Rights and responsibilities of mining communities under the mineral and mining policies and law of Ghana, ECOWAS, and Africa.
Mr. Ayorogo when engaging community members present at the forum said, the main objective of the forum, is to influence responsible mining, equitable sharing of mineral rights with communities, peace, and respect for the promotion of human rights.
“Our motivation is that, over the years, you can look at Africa continental level, the ECOWAS level, the national level, wherever there is mining or wherever there are mineral resources, there are always associated challenges”.
He pointed out, that mining makes a significant contribution to the development of every community in every country. “You can look at it in terms of employment, in terms of contribution to GDP, in terms of foreign exchange”.
However, Mr. Ayorogo insisted that despite all the mining contributions, the other side of mining is a symptom that looks so ugly. Stressing that the forum beyond its objective is seeking to see how they can maximize the benefits of mining and then reduce the challenges associated with it, especially the exploitation of these Mineral resources against residents by the mining companies.
“So, once NORPRA is aware in accordance to its mandate to mobilize communities, educate them, create awareness among community members on their rights and responsibilities that are been guaranteed by the Mineral and mining laws we thought it wise that once a company is coming into Sherigu community in the Bolgatanga Municipality, we should come around with the regulatory institutions like the Mineral Commission, EPA, Land Commission, Forestry Commission and all the other regulatory institutions with the Municipal Assembly”. Mr. Ayorogo explained
Meanwhile, responding to some of the questions asked by community members during the forum about the activities of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in mining communities, an official of EPA present Mr. Agbenyeke Godfred Yao explained, “Once a company or group of individuals come to acquire its documents, they are permitted by the agency to do their work. The agency only comes in when there are challenges with regards to pollution of the environment or destruction of the water bodies within the environment”.
“That is where we write to the company involved and invite them, if need be we ask them to provide an alternative source of water to the community”.
“We are not into giving of concession, we only come in when there are environmental issues that need attention” He explained
Alhassan B. Zakariah, Acting Regional Valuer in charge of the land Commission also clarified some issues regarding the mining lease and compensation. Also responding to questions, Mr. Zakariah said: “We must take into account the number of years of the mining lease”.
“So, our compensation or our assessment is going to be based on the number of years. So, if the mining lease says that is 5 years, we are going to assess our compensation for 5 years.
After 5 years, if they renew their mining lease then, you renegotiate. It is not a one-time compensation” He stressed
Mr. Zakariah further explained that “It is only when land is acquired compulsorily by the government for a project that will inure to the benefit of the Ghanaian people that is where the government pays compensation wholly and takes over the land.
But when it comes to mining, it is a lease that is given, and the assessment of compensation is done based on the number of years that is inserted in the mining lease. So, if is for 5 years, we do an assessment of compensation for deprivation of land use.
According to him, the assessment also includes crops, economic trees, and building structures. He says they assess them based on the period of the mining lease. Once the lease is expired and later renewed, there is a need for renegotiation of compensation. He explained
The Bolgatanga District Officer of the Mineral Commission Mr. Achindiba Dickson when responding to questions regarding the rights of a prospecting company says: “Prospecting license allows a company to trench, it allows them to drill, it allows them to be able to take samples. But any destruction caused in the process by the company, victim, or victims of the affected destruction must be compensated.
He further explained that when it comes to mining leases, prospecting is 3 years subject to renewal, Small scale mining has 5 years subject to renewal but for large scale, it has 15 to 30 years lease depending on the amount of deposit.
He said any mining company that entered a community for mining has to get an office to enable them to carry out their activity. It doesn’t matter where the office is situated, it could be in the community or outside the community. Mr. Achindiba stated
Meanwhile, when addressing members of the Sherigu community and its surroundings at the community sensitization forum, the Bolgatanga Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) Mr. Rex Asanga maintained that one of the surest ways that all actors-communities, mining companies, and government can reap the full benefits of these natural resources is for all to act and conduct themselves responsibly and unconditionally respect the policies and laws that regulate the mining sector.
According to him, the mining policies and legal frameworks have made provisions for everybody’s development interest as roles of industry players have been well defined for companies to get returns on their investment, communities to get a fair share of the mineral wealth through compensations, royalties, and employment, and for the government to get revenue through taxes and levies.
He further stressed “We cannot and should not pretend to say everything about mining is honey and milk. Mining comes with both opportunities and challenges as a lot of evidence in this regard abound in mining communities in the region and beyond”.
He, therefore, urged all to be guided and learn lessons and experiences from existing mining companies and communities for the purposes of minimizing the challenges through building and sustaining good relationships between the community and the company.
This he said can be done through a more open, transparent, and accountable relationship to secure the social license which is very key to promoting peace and development of the community and municipality.
Mr. Tabury Ben, the General Manager of Youwerei Natural Resources Limited a Ghanaian mining company seeking to mine in the Sherigu community said, they are aware as a mining company, they have some corporate social responsibility towards the community which they must fulfill. Stressing that they are looking forward to working together with the people of the Sherigu community.
The chief and people of Sherigu and some opinion leaders from other nearby Communities expressed their heartfelt gratitude to NORPRA for considering the Sherigu community for such an initiative.
Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana
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