Youth ready to resist mining operations in Ghana’s Forest Reserves
BY Masahudu Ankiilu Kunateh, Ghanadot

Accra, Sept 4, Ghanadot - The youth of Ghana are prepared to resist mining operations in the country’s Forest Reserves to salvage the country’s pristine forest and biodiversity from inhumane, irresponsible and unbeneficial mining activities by foreign companies.

According to statement issued by the Youth for Action Ghana (YfAG), a local NGO and signed by its Executive Director, James Kwabena Bomfeh Jnr, mining in Forest Reserves in Ghana constitute a crime against the youth of Ghana who have a greater stake in the wealth of Ghana and form the generation who would bear the consequences of the destruction of Ghana’s Forests and biodiversity in the future.

The statement indicated that “YfAG is aware of the ecologically strategic importance of the Ajenua Bepo Forest Reserve and Atiwa Forest Reserve and we insist that clearing the forest for mining activity will cause the nation an irreparable loss. Over the years, the mining industry has not benefitted the inhabitants of the mining areas, adding it has also destroyed their livelihoods and poisoned their water bodies”.

Of particular concern to YfAG is the granting of mining rights to mining companies such as Newmont to undertake mining operations in the Ajenua Bepo Forest Reserve and Alcoa to mine in the Atiwa Forest Reserve, which is the pride of the people of Akyem Abuakwa.

The YfAG is very worried about the insensitivity of Government agencies in matters relating to the welfare and development of mining communities.

Consequently, the group is demanding immediately that: Government takes immediate steps to review the existing mining laws which only protect the interest of mining companies and provides unjustifiable tax relieves as well as high levels of profit repatriation to foreign mining firms.

Government takes immediate steps to halt all exploratory and mining projects in the forest reserves in the country and Government must immediately review the terms of investment agreements with mining firms, enforce environmental standards and ensure that the socio-economic interests of mining communities are protected.

Furthermore; “We call on government to take steps to protect our forest reserves and other ecological monuments in the country.

We call on the President Mills led government as a matter of urgency to revoke the environmental permit granted Newmont to Mine in the Ajenua Bepo Forest Reserve.

We further call on religious bodies, trade unions, student bodies and other civil society organization as well as the academia to join this national call to demand preservation of national, cultural and economic resources which we owe as a duty to future generations.

We call on the Chiefs of Ghana to be circumspect and nationalistic in discussing our natural resources. They should appreciate the role of civil society organizations (CSOs) advocating for a voice for community people”.

Indeed, for sometime now the discussion on mining activities and its negative effects on the economy, local communities and the environment have been characterized comments that tend to encourage over exploitation of our minerals in a way that would not benefit the country and the communities affected by mining operations. This is the outcome of political misjudgment by local economic/cultural agents who will stop at nothing in pursuance of their personal economic interest against the collective aspirations of our people.

The mining industry makes minimal contribution to the national economy and creates many social, economic and environmental problems resulting in increasing rate of resource depletion.

Go to Prestea, Obuasi, Tarkwa, Bogoso, Dunkwa, Akwatia and Bibiani are only shadows of past glory after decades of mining. Hardships, diseases, unemployment and human rights violations have become the reward for people in mining communities who sit on natural wealth through no fault of theirs.

Obuasi, the oldest goldmine town in Ghana and once a fertile ground for agricultural activity has had its land surface destroyed by the creation of several artificial mountains from mine waste developed from the surface mining operations of Ashanti Goldfields Company now AngloGold Ashanti Obuasi mine. Stories of cyanide spillages, destruction of water bodies, the degradation of biodiversity and other manifestations of ecological disasters have become the daily news from mining towns.

YfAG shares in the ideals of the Okyehene Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin of protecting our Forest Reserves from corporate greed.

YfAG congratulate the Okyehene for his ten years of consistent struggle to protect the environment and the creation of awareness about the harmful effects of mining activities.

YfAG also wishes to express its concern about the poor supervisory role and actions of state organs and regulatory bodies in recent years. YfAG notes with deep worry, the fact that important state institutions including universities are under the strong influence of the mining companies.

We do not believe that under these conditions, these public bodies and institutions can stand against these mining firms in the interest of mining communities and the public.

Regulatory bodies such as the Environmental Protection Agency and all Research Institutions need to be funded by public sources so that they can assert their independence and protect the mining communities and the interest of the country.

In conclusion, YfAG finds it worrying that some Chiefs in Akyem Kotoku are supporting the intended Newmont Akyem mine in the Ajenua Bepo Forest Reserve which according to Newmont’s own documents would lead to the destruction of the livelihood of about 10,000 farmers and also destroy important heritage sites including cemeteries. Newmont records that its mining operations in Akyem would result in the destruction of a Royal Cemetery in Yayaso. It is surprising that despite these serious negative effects of the Newmont Akyem project which would lead to the destruction of Ajenua Bepo Forest Reserve, some Chiefs in Akyem Kotoku are vigorously campaigning for this destructive mining project of Newmont.

What is even more disappointing is the preparedness of these Akyem Kotoku Chiefs to lead the attacks on advocacy NGOs like WACAM that are performing their patriotic duty of protecting Forest Reserves in Ghana including the Ajenua Bepo Forest Reserve.

There had been media reports that the Chiefs involved in the vicious attacks on WACAM and other NGOs had confirmed being paid $12,000 each by Newmont for administrative purposes. The fact that the payment of the monies to the Chiefs by Newmont coincided with the campaign against WACAM and other NGOs opposed to Newmont’s mining operations in Ajenua Bepo Forest Reserves raises a lot of questions about the reasons behind the payments. Is it a matter that the chiefs were paid to do some dirty work for Newmont? Our Chiefs must serve the interest of their people at all times.

Ghanadot