Mining communities appeal to companies to resume dialogue

Accra, April 21, GNA - People in mining communities affected by mining operations have called on mining companies in these areas to resume dialogue aimed at addressing environmental and social problems arising out of their mining activities.

The companies are the Anglogold Ashanti and Anglogold Obuasi and some of the communities in which they operate are Jenafo, Odumasi, Hia, Hiampenika, Kronko, Anwiam Anyankyirew.

They said in a resolution that despite the show of support for the process and the clear willingness by the communities to make it work, Anglogfold for instance, has on several occasions unilaterally broken off contact. They said their disappointment stemmed from the company's foot dragging attitude towards the dialogue initiated by the Wasa Communities Affected by Mining (WACAM).

They accused the company of "deliberately stalling the process" to buy time and "thereby frustrate all efforts aimed at getting it to accept responsibility for its environmental and social problems resulting from their operations." Speaking to the Ghana News Agency in an interview, Mr Daniel Owusu-Koranteng, Director of WACAM, said it was not true that Newmont Ghana Gold had not succeeded in getting WACAM to dialogue on environmental issues. He said he had had several meetings with the company at all levels of management specifically in Accra, Newmont Ahafo Mining and Newmont Akyem Project.

He said WACAM, in conjunction with FIAN, a German non-governmental organisation, had a dialogue with Anglogold Aduaperim Mine during which they developed an action plan to resolve the problems. These include building of schools, scholarships for the youth in the area, boreholes and other social amenities.

He commended the good role Mr John Opoku, Chairman of the Monitory advisor group of the action plan, had played in reducing the school drop out rate in Budukrom and Wangarakrom.

Mr Owusu-Koranteng also commended Ms Anna Bossman, Acting Chairman of the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice, for ensuring that the rights of people in the communities are not abused.