VOICES FROM MINING COMMUNITIES

It is no doubt that extractive companies through their operations, provide financial returns to the country.

Mr. Augustine Niber, Centre for Public Interest Law (www.cepil.org.gh/‎) states that, the country gains about 40% of mineral export earnings. And that the mining sector employs 12,290 people (Chamber of Mines, 2010) representing about 1% of total workforce (Trades Union Congress, 2007).

However, and despite the huge returns gained through mining, communities where such operations are carried out must be looked at... not just looking at challenges facing them, but the effective measures to address their plight and also the concerns raised by most people living in mining areas like Obuasi (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obuasi‎) Prestea and Nsuta among others.

With the advent of metal (many centuries ago), industrial work has been revolutionized and so is with the mining sector. The companies in Ghana, mostly small scale ones, adopt every means possible to use their machinery to extract minerals (gold, bauxite, lead, manganese, copper, etc.) from deep down the earth, leaving large uncovered pits. Pay a visit to some of these mining sites and you'll be amazed at the "great destruction" of the earth and the environment.

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Dangers Caused By Mining

* Contamination of community water bodies due to cyanide - a deadly chemical from mineral residue that spills into streams or could be intentionally dumped into water bodies by some miners. Those who drink from such waters (often oblivious of the situation) are risking their lives and so is the harm caused to aquatic life.

* Loss of thousands of community employment. Large lands could have been used to establish hospitals, markets, farms, schools or businesses.

* Destruction of sacred and cultural sites.

* Loss and extinction of plant and animal species some of which could be new to science.

*Human rights violation. There's been recorded cases of conflict between some foreign miners and community folks.

These and many other dangers has compelled most community dwellers to voice out their feelings against the unscrupulous manner of mining by some small scale mining firms and most galamsey (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galamsey‎) operators.

They Call On Government To:

 

*Designate forest reserves, water bodies and arable lands as "No Go Zones" for mining.

* Reduce the powers of the Minister in granting mining concessions.

* Let mining royalties benefit mining communities.

* Establish more High Courts to improve determination of compensation cases.

* Compel companies to undertake and disclose baseline studies on prevailing diseases in concession areas prior to commencement of operations.

* Protect their sacred and cultural sites from mining activities.

* Enforce small scale mining Licensing Law.

* Develop land use plan for the country.

* Say no to mining in forest reserve and other protected areas.

* Not permit mining activities close to settlements.

There are more of these concerns though the above ones are also very crucial and demands urgent consideration and action by government.

The government, stakeholders, investors and perhaps the citizenry mustn't be "blinded" about the huge millions of dollars gained from mineral exports (although that's needed to, some extent , finance development purposes) Rather, all groups must be most concern about the effects mining has on the environment and man's health. They shouldn't take this lightly. Lives of both plant and animal species are threatened through excess mining. Most of the water bodies from which the whole country depends on for drinking*, cooking*, washing, etc., are being contaminated due to cyanide spills. The city dweller is even at risk... Reflect on this!

Too much talk will do little good. The truth is simple and clear: Concerns from mining communities must be addressed. The environment is being destroyed through vigorous mining operations which must stop.

Today we seem okay.

Yesterday had gone

and Tomorrow may not come. As we sow, so shall we reap. Therefore, for Christ's sake and the love for our survival, let us as a collective responsibility strive to Protect the Environment.