Mining in forest reserves an insult to our nation’s dignity — Wacam, CEPIL, CEIA

Wacam, the Centre for Public Interest Law (CEPIL), and the Centre for Environmental Impact Analysis (CEIA) have strongly condemned mining activities in Ghana's forest reserves, describing it as a severe affront to the nation's dignity.

In a joint statement issued in Accra on October 17, 2024, the civil society organizations (CSOs) warned that mining in forest reserves has led to devastating environmental and social consequences, including deforestation, water pollution, and the displacement of indigenous communities.

"Mining in forest reserves is an insult to the dignity of our nation. Allowing any local or foreign company to exploit these reserves is unacceptable," the statement declared.

The CSOs also criticized the "weaknesses" of the *Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703)*, arguing that it fails to hold mining companies accountable for the environmental and social damage they cause.

In response to the ongoing issues, Wacam, CEPIL, and CEIA proposed a multi-faceted strategy to combat surface mining and illegal small-scale mining (galamsey). They advocated for a non-partisan approach to the problem, including an immediate moratorium on the issuance of new mining licenses to prevent further environmental degradation.

The statement called for mass citizen action, urging the involvement of diverse stakeholders, including religious leaders, churches, workers, market women, media, and traditional authorities, to hold the government accountable. Additionally, the CSOs called for a comprehensive review of mining laws, emphasizing the need for stronger environmental safeguards and protections for affected communities.

Since 2002, Wacam, CEPIL, and CEIA have been vocal about the dangers of mining in forest reserves, particularly highlighting the harmful impact of mine wastewater on forests and water bodies that serve as drinking water sources for local communities.

“The consequences of such actions are dire, as seen in the case of Newmont Ghana Gold Limited, which discharged massive amounts of mine waste into River Subri on two separate occasions: December 26, 2010, and December 20-24, 2011. River Subri, which flows from Bono and Ahafo regions to the Western Region, is a vital source of drinking water for millions of Ghanaians,” it lamented.

“The large-scale nature of the current mining boom referred to as the "Third Jungle Boom," resulted in extensive destruction of lands of indigenous communities whose main occupation is farming. The introduction of surface mining in the third jungle boom also introduced extraction of gold using cyanide in heap leach, a method considered by mining investors to be cost effective. Since then, the country had experienced cyanide spillages,” the statement noted.