Group wants Newmont’s Akyem Project suspended

Government has been asked to immediately suspend the mining license granted to Newmont Gold Ghana Limited until the company modifies its design to mine away from the Ajenua Forest Reserve and the Royal Mausoleum.

The Centre for Social Impact Studies (CeSIS), a research and advocacy non-governmental organization, has observed with worry government's policy contradiction by investing huge sums of money in rehabilitating the country's dwindling forest resources whilst granting licenses to mining companies to rape the forest.

There has been a standoff between the Yayaso community in the Western Region and personnel of the Ghana Police Service over the refusal of the community to move out of their ancestral homes to make way for Newmont's Akyem Project.

Some residents of Yayaso have refused to relocate to a new resettlement camp at Adausena because, according to them, Newmont has not fully complied with provisions of Article 20 (3) of the 1992 Constitution which requires that persons are resettled on suitable alternative land with due regard to their socio-cultural and economic circumstances.

Section 74 (2) of the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006, Act 703 also specifies that the holder of a mining lease should pay adequate, prompt and fair compensation for affected property before beginning operations.

A statement issued by CeSIS and signed by Clement Kaku Asiedu Menlah, Director of Research and Advocacy, says Newmont has failed to comply with the provisions of the law, and that makes the forceful eviction of the Yayaso community unlawful.

“It is important to note that though Newmont got the license to undertake its Akyem project in early 2009, the company has found it difficult to acquire the needed social license that could make its operations easier. This situation has arisen because it has refused to genuinely engage with affected communities in finding solutions to the social problems that its operations will bring to the people. Of particular significance is the company's decision to mine in the Ajenua Bepo Forest Reserve, one of a few remaining pristine forests of Ghana that has been certified to be home to rare species of fauna”, the statement read.

The group also wants the Government of Ghana to take urgent steps to internalize the ECOWAS Directives on Mining Policy which upholds the right of community people to free, prior and informed consent in any extraction of minerals.

CeSIS has called for a more genuine and concerted action on the part of government to save the country's remaining forest reserves in efforts to reverse the climate change phenomenon.

The NGO also charged Newmont, which is a major client of the International Finance Corporation (IFC) – the private sector lending arm of the World Bank Group – to pursue performance standards as specified by IFC's Policy and Performance Standards.

“The company must adhere specifically to Performance Standard 4 (Community Health, Safety and Security), Performance Standard 5 (Land Acquisition and Involuntary Resettlement) and Performance Standard 8 (Cultural Heritage) in its mining operations in the country” the statement noted.

Story by Kofi Adu Domfeh/Luv Fm/Ghana