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Gov’t exposed over plans to allow mining in forest reserves
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INVESTIGATIONS conducted by Today have revealed plans by government to permit surface gold mining activities in the country’s forest reserves by some multinational companies including local ones.
These forest sites, Today uncovered are; Tano Suraw Forest Reserve; Obonsam Bepo Forest Reserve; Atiwa Range Forest Reserve; Fure; Tano and Offin Forest Reserves, which are parts of Ghana’s 30 Globally Significant Biodiversity Areas.”
The companies, Today established are Goldfields Ghana Limited, Tarkwa; Perseus Mining Company at Wassa Akropong and AngloGold Ashanti.
These multinational companies, our sources said have been granted licence to mine in the forest enclaves preserved for different projects.
Although, the law prevents mining companies to mine in the forest reserves, Head of Communications at Ghana Mineral Commission, Mr. Isaac Abraham stated that there is a policy in the country which stipulates that the gold mining companies can mine two per cent of the country’s forest reserves.
Upon this development, Mr. Abraham confirmed to Today that government through the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources granted licence to two mining companies (names withheld) to mine in forest reserves.
Today was reliably informed that dozens of bulldozers, excavators and other heavy earth moving equipment belonging to these multinational and local mining companies operating in Ghana will soon destroy several thousand hectares of forest reserves in the Ashanti, Western, Eastern and Brong Ahafo Regions of the country.
According to the miners, they discovered the staggering volumes of gold deposits beneath the lush green forests when the previous National Democratic Congress (NDC) government gave them permission to scavenge the forest reserves for gold.
However, they said, the government then did not live up to its word of giving them the go- ahead to mine the gold once they make a discovery.
“After the exploratory exercise in the forest reserves, we told the then NDC government that we had found economically viable mineral resources in the forest reserves and we needed permit to enable us go into actual gold mining by surface mining method.
But for some strange reasons the government decided to play hardball with us till it left office.
Now the NDC is no more and we want the new administration to grant us permit to start full-scale surface mining..
The fact is, collectively we spent over US$10 million in prospecting for gold in the forest sites, and we have to recoup our money”, the miners disclosed.
These forest sites were reserved to, also help stock, preserve and increase the number of wild animals and water bodies and tree species that have existed for centuries.
However, these reserves are today threatened by the activities of these companies which are mainly multinationals.
Almost half of the forest reserves have been depleted by the mining companies.
Meanwhile the decision by government to allow gold mining in forest reserves has received mixed reactions from many Ghanaians, particularly those living in the mining communities like, Tarkwa; Prestea /Dumasi; Nzema; Kenayse; Donkro-Nkwanta; Obuasi; Mumuadu; Akyem Nkwarteng; Akyem Adausena and Sheini Zones.
For instance, some described the decision as dangerous and unconstitutional since according to them, the situation would bring serious effects and negative impact on the natural formation of the climate and inhabitants in and around the forest zones.
They also explained that, it will have effects on food production, which can contribute to food insecurity and around the country.
Also speaking on same issue in an interview with Today, some members of Wacam, an environmental advocacy organisation asked the new government to suspend all mining activities in forest reserves, and also withdraw the leases of mining companies which conduct their activities in the reserves.
They expressed worry about the statement by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that: “Ghana will experience severe water crisis by 2025, if nothing is done to reduce the increasing pollution of water bodies and forest degradation.”
The EPA anticipates that the country’s per capita water availability would be 1,000 cubic metres (m3) per annum, making Ghana a water-stressed country.”
They stated that, the current Minerals and Mining Act, Act 703, 2006, provides adequate protection for the multinational mining companies, but not rights for surface mining.
They were however of the opinion that the Minerals and Mining Act is too weak to provide effective regulation for mining.
The members noted further that, the Minerals and Mining Act, does not have important provisions such as the Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC), which will empower host communities to reject or accept a mining project based on the knowledge of the benefits and negative effects of mining in their communities.
They further expressed worry that, despite the environmental challenges,facing the country, the Minerals and Mining Act does not contain provisions on the Polluter Pays’ Principle (PPP).
To this end, members of Wacam called on the government to have a comprehensive reform of mining regulations.
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