Anwiam community appeals for resettlement

Obuasi, June 15, GNA - The Anwiam community within the Obuasi municipality has appealed to the management of AngloGold Ashanti to resettle them since years of mining had rendered the area unsafe for human habitation.

The appeal followed a focus group discussion the community had with the Community Rights Foundation (CRF), an Obuasi-based non-governmental organization (NGO). The Foundation visited the community to assess mine related human rights abuses as part of a project - Peoples' Rights for Participation and Development (PERPAD) - which the foundation had initiated to empower mining communities. Most of the community members complained that as a result of surface mining, most buildings had cracks with some becoming death traps. They also talked about AngloGold Ashanti's failure to undertake drainage works to enable wastewater from the mine to flow out easily. "As the situation is now, the community get flooded anytime it rains", a member said.

Madam Faustina Amissah, assembly member for the area, commended AngloGold Ashanti for the provision of potable water to the people but said the company did not use PVC pipes to replace the old steel pipes and this had affected the quality of water.

Mr Edward Akuoko, the Executive Director of CRF, said the Department for International Development (DFID) was supporting the PERPAD initiative through Rights and Voice Initiative (RAVI) and Social Support Foundation (SSF), all NGOs. He gave the assurance that the foundation would facilitate the meetings between the community leadership and the company to bring about change.