Bossman: Ghana should not make money….at the expense of human rights

Accra, June 1, GNA – Ms Anna Bossman, Former Acting Commissioner on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), would forever be remembered for her statement: “Ghana should not make money from the exploitation of her minerals at the expense of human rights.”

This was contained in a statement of commendation Mr Daniel Owusu-Koranteng, Executive Director of WACAM, a human rights and mining advocacy nongovernmental organisation, signed on Wednesday.

The statement said: “Ms Anna Bossman advanced the preliminary work of her predecessor Justice Francis Emile Short in constituting investigations into human rights abuses in mining communities.

“Ms Anna Bossman distinguished herself as an effective advocate for the protection of the rights of people living in mining communities. She visited mining communities in very remote areas of Ghana to have first-hand information on the human rights abuses perpetrated by multinational mining companies.

“Ms Anna Bossman had the patience to listen to testimonies of the mining communities on human rights abuses, displacement of communities, cyanide spillages, air and water pollution, loss of livelihoods and the general worsening of the living conditions of host communities, which resulted from the unbridled desire of foreign capital to exploit our natural wealth.”

The statement said “Wacam and the mining communities would remember Ms Anna Bossman for her popular statement that 'Ghana should not make money from the exploitation of her minerals at the expense of human rights'.”

It said: “Those of us, who had the opportunity to accompany her on the visit to mining communities, would forever remember the simplicity with which she handled human rights issues and this manifested in her deep respect and tolerance for very ordinary people.

“It is no mean achievement that Ms Anna Bossman was able to assert her independence from any form of influence. She worked hard with her team of staff of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) to document the human rights abuses in mining communities in a report titled “The State of Human Rights in Mining Communities” which was published in 2008.

“The CHRAJ Report has contributed immensely to the ongoing reforms in the Mining Sector and has become a reference point globally for bringing out the human rights challenges confronting resource rich developing countries.”

Wacam said: “Ms Anna Bossman personifies excellence in the public service and many Ghanaians would remember her for her dedication to national duty especially the protection of the rights of the poor.

“Wacam and the mining communities commend her highly for her extraordinary commitment to the protection of the rights of poor mining communities.

“We wish her the best in her future endeavours and hope that she would not stray from her commitment to the protection of the rights of the poor. Though we are sad to lose such a dedicated public servant at this time when we need the services of nationalists of her kind, her leadership style has become a model for public service. We are proud that she has left a legacy of dedicated public service to be emulated by many public servants,” Wacam said.

GNA