Chamber of Mines in Monkey Business

Accra, June 19, GNA - Two Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) have described the advertised premiering of the documentary "Mine Your Business" by the Ghana Chamber of Mines as a "dirty public relations gimmick of the mining industry".

They have, therefore, called on the Youth of Ghana and all those who have the interest of the underprivileged at heart, to condemn "Mine Your Business", which attacked NGOs advocating the rights of communities affected by mining.

A press statement Mr Daniel Owusu-Koranteng, Executive Director of Wassa Communities Affected by Mining (WACAM) and Mr James Kwabena Bonfeh, Executive Director, Youth for Action, Ghana, signed on Tuesday said the documentary was a tacit attempt by mining companies to silence worldwide outcry against the damaging and devastating effects of surface mining.

The statement said the two NGOs deemed it a social responsibility to provide information about "Mine Your Own Business" which was funded by Gabriel Resources Limited, a Canadian mining company, to respond to increasing protests against the Rosia Montana Project in Romania.

It said mining companies in their desire for profit have turned deaf ears to the economic, social and environmental problems they create for poor communities as a result of their operations.

The statement described the documentary by Phelim McAleer and his wife Ann McElhinney as "a well-rehearsed drama of acceptance of the Rosia Montana Project" even though there was enough evidence to the contrary - Religious Bodies, Academics, Local People, Investors and Politicians have denounced it as an environmental and social disaster. The Romanian Academy of Sciences stated; "the gold mine proposal is not in the public interest and the collateral negative effects as well as the risks are not justified".

The statement said: "The European Parliament has expressed worry that the Rosia Montana Project would pose a threat to Romania and the whole European Region and thus cautioned against it", adding that Hungry, a neighbouring country had expressed fears about the pollution of her rivers.

The statement said: "Our message to Mr McAleer and his wife is that even as they benefit from the mining industry's sponsorship in this documentary, the evidence of the suffering of mining communities can be found in Obuasi in Ashanti Region; Tarkwa, Dumase and Prestea in Western Region and Kenyase and Ntotroso in Brong Ahafo Region.

"Mr Phelim Mc Aleer and his wife can afford to make such a documentary because they are privileged to live far away from the poverty and suffering that mining companies have imposed on the communities. Indeed, the "Mine Your Own Business" documentary looks at mining through the lens of a beneficiary".