NGO researches into mining-related abuses

Community Rights Foundation (CRIF), an Obuasi-based non-governmental organization has commissioned a research into the degree of mine-related human rights abuses and how best the abuses could be reduced within Obuasi and its environs.

One of its major priorities is to advocate the reduction of mine-related human rights abuses and has so far identified land deprivation, assaults, inadequate compensation, destruction of communities' sources of water, among others as some of the abuses.

In a statement issued at Obuasi on Friday, Executive Director of the Foundation, Mr Edward Akuoko said the research would help it to collect reliable data on the level of the abuses within the mining communities in the Obuasi municipality and beyond.

So far, the release said 20 mining communities including Anyinam, Ahansoyewodea, Binsere and Odumase had been covered by the research project.

It said the Foundation periodically engaged the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) and the Department of Social Welfare on discussions on human rights abuses in the mining areas.

The Foundation expressed the hope to organize stakeholders' meeting with participants as AngloGold Ashanti, the police, chiefs, community opinion leaders, assembly members and the media to discuss how such abuses could be reduced if not eliminated.

The project, according to the release, is being funded by the Rights and Voice Initiative (RAVI), an NGO acting as the intermediary and would be completed in July this year.

Source: GNA