Ghana: Mining Companies Accused of Human Rights Abuse
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Ghanaian Chronicle (Accra)
5 September 2008
Posted to the web 5 September 2008
Stephen Odoi-Larbi
Mining companies have been accused of human rights abuse in communities of their operation, according to a report released by the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), Ghana.
The 200 paged report which was launched in Accra by the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Mr. Joe Ghartey contained a comprehensive compilation of the entire investigation done on the violation of human rights of people living within mining communities across the country. The report was carried out by CHRAJ following increasing reports of violations of the rights of people living in mining areas to determine in a systematic manner, the nature and causes of these violations.
Issues explored in CHRAJ's report include- water and water resources, environmental Degradation, dust pollution, blasting, health and related issues, safety and security, livelihoods and employment, resettlement and compensation, illegal mining, royalties and development projects in the mining communities.
It took the CHRAJ 12 months to conduct the investigations, covering 42 communities in 5 regions namely- Ashanti, Eastern, Western, Brong Ahafo and Upper East, where major mining activities take place.
The results of the investigation showed widespread human rights violation of individual members of the communities as well as communities' collective rights in some mining areas in the country. It also showed high level of mistrust and suspicion built over a period, creating tension between mining communities and companies that occasionally erupt into conflicts.
According to the CHRAJ findings, the most serious complaints of abuse came from communities within the operational areas with a long history of mining. While issues of excess force against individuals and deprivation of livelihoods were more endemic in large-scale mining areas, child labour was absent in these mines but very endemic in small-scale mining areas, the report revealed.
The Deputy Commissioner of the Human Right and Administration Justice, Mr. Richard Quayson in his presentation and recommendations of the findings of the Report said "although some mining companies are making the efforts to provide social amenities in some of the communities, CHRAJ believes that much still needed to be done to improve standard of living.
He indicated that stakeholders in the mining industry and other concerned organisations needed a lot of attention and scrutiny to protect the rights of the people living in those communities.
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"Claims of greater justice by the people living in the mining communities do indeed merit serious attention", he added.
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