Mrs. Lillian Bruce, Coordinator, Civil Society Coalition on Land (CICOL), has proposed the establishment of environmental courts to help solve many dangers surface mining is imposing on communities.
She again called for the abolishment of surface mining for underground mining, to enable the sector attract more investors and boost revenue.
Organised by CICOL, the meeting brought together stakeholders from the Minerals Commission, Ministry of Lands, Civil Society Organisation, non-governmental organisations and individuals from across the regions to share and exchange ideas toward review of the Mining Act.
The programme also saw participants developing pragmatic measures as a way forward in dealing with the canker of illegal mining activities.
Speaking on the theme “Impact of Mining Operations on the Livelihoods and Socio-economic wellbeing of Resettled Host Communities in the Western Regionâ€Â, Mrs. Bruce explained that the dialogue was a way of developing requisite measures to help bridge the gap created by mining operations in the Western Region; there was need to assess the impact it has had on citizens as well as their knowledge on the mining laws.
Mrs. Bruce said as part of CICOL’s efforts in addressing the problems with mining operations, an evaluation exercise was carried out in three districts of Tarkwa because of the resettled communities in the region.
She explained that during the exercise it was revealed that about 70 percent of people in the region were found to be farmers who had lost their lands as a result of concession activities which had made farming unattractive and impacted on their livelihoods and employment.
“We also found out that there was no access to potable water; and in cases where there was, it did not taste good; it was discoloured and very hard to work with,†she said.
Mrs. Bruce indicated that the community members had no hope, knowledge, education or ideas about compensation of lands, adding: “Community members disclosed that resettlement had brought hunger to them and impacted negatively on their livelihood as well as employment.
“Government needs to provide us with adequate public education, sensitisation and equipment for regulatory commission,†she said.
Alhaji H. J. Baryeh, Technical Director, Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, said over the years there have been collaborative efforts between the Ministry and CICOL aimed at addressing the dangers mining activities pose to lands in the country.
He expressed the Ministry’s readiness to work with CICOL and all stakeholders on eliminating the cankers befalling the country through activities in mining.
Mrs. Dela Obeng-Sakyi, Principal Legal Officer, Minerals Commission, called for adequate education to help boost the public’s knowledge of mining and its operational acts.
Commenting on compensation, she said there has been an amendment in the mining operations legislation to help address compensation, delayed payments, increased project cost, project delay and property loss to citizens, institutions and other personnel affected by the mining activities.
“Subject to section 73 and 74 of the mining operations Act, there have been regulations such as claims for compensation, negotiations, assessments and payments in the promotion of better dealing in the mining sector,†she said.
Mrs. Obeng-Sakyi said there had also been the involvement of many resource people as well as new laws to hopefully solve problems being faced by people at the grassroots.
Christie Esi Bobobee, Administrator of Stool Lands, Ghana, welcomed CICOL for the timely and the platform to actively improve the best ways of mining in the country.
“Many benefits are derived from mining when done properly, and therefore the Stool Lands have a similar mandate with CICOL to work between the agencies, public and non-public institutions in the area of lands,†she remarked.
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