Civil society: Difference between revisions

Rapid proliferation of large-scale mining activity after the privatization of mining industry in Ghana has increased demand for mineralized land throughout the country. Demand for large tracts of land required for large-scale surface mining is causing tensions between multinational mining companies and indigenous groups. Mining companies have gone through the necessary legal channels to secure concessions and should therefore have legal entitlement. But for indigenous people land provides their livelihoods and they have cultural ties to it (Obara and Jenkins 2006: 6)<ref name=Obara>Louise J. Obara and Heledd Jenkins: Land use disputes in Ghana’s mining communities: Developing sustainable strategies. 2006.</ref>.

Mining activities in Ghana usually take place in rural areas with high illiteracy rate. Land designated for large-scale mining is often taken from farmers without proper compensation and they have no chance to find another employment, since mining activities do not provide enough jobs to match the total number of people laid off from agriculture. This has led to deepening of poverty of the people.

In spite of economic benefits resulting from investments in infrastructure – such as roads, schools, hospitals, electricity and water supplies – communities within mine locations suffer from environmental degradation, as well as the health problems.  

The concentration of mining activities has also resulted in massive migration of all kinds. Some people had to migrate in search of farmland, others were relocated or resettled by the mining companies, while the youth has migrated to the towns, especially Tarkwa, and to the mining areas in search of jobs. The growing displacement of communities has the potential of generating other social problems <ref>Thomas Akabzaa and Abdulai Darimani: Impact of Mining Sector Investment in Ghana: A Study of the Tarkwa Mining Region. 2001.</ref>. Anyway, mining investment has had a seriously adverse impact on the social organization and cultural values of the people.

== Description of the mining problem from our perspective ==

The most problematic land use disputes occur between small illegal miners called galamsey and large-scale mining companies. Small-scale illegal miners<ref> Small-scale mining is primarily a poverty-related activity found in regions, where there are few employment opportunities and where education levels are extremely low (Obara and Jenkins 2006: 5).</ref> are mainly individuals operating on plots of land demarcated to other stakeholders, particularly mining companies. This causes grievances and companies are calling for intervention of Ghanaian Government. However, the government’s attempts to relocate illegal miners often generate escalated levels of agitation and conflicts and are unlikely to provide a long-term solution to the problem. The Ghanaian Government policies that focus on promoting the interests of large-scale mining and further marginalize prospective indigenous mining groups are again fuelling the rapid growth of galamsey communities <ref name=Obara></ref>

=== Environmental damages (contamination of water, land exploitation) ===

NGOs as WACAM talk us about the problem in various communities, for the discharge in drinking water of cyanide and other contaminants from the treatment of the metals extraction and the use of land for mining without regard to the needs and development of communities.

It is a widespread problem, on which also the NGOs and civil society organizations like CSOs (Civil Society Organization) raise their voice and claim government assistance, as well as manage their land and leave them without work environment do not receive adequate compensation and not take into account affected communities in decision-making, which can not have a right advice and are negatively affected in the treatment, leading to social confrontations and discomfort with mining companies. They demand that the mining laws collect these problems and it provides an adequate treatment of the problem.

NGOs as WACAM call to reform mining law, the land planning not to destroy the country's food reserves, provides information to communities so they know their rights and strive for them because the government does not involved enough.

In national forums community representatives and organizations talk about their rights and they pick up reports and they inform of the policies that are taking effect for the Government's part, as it seems some member from the government are also there.

Social organizations such as Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) are fighting for the mining reforms. In the Third World's Network Africa on behalf of a series of groups of the civil society they asked for the harmonizing of the existent policies and the adoption of standards that they improve the cooperation. In turn they urged the African Governments to improve the understanding and the quality of the reforms.  

Other organizations such as EITI that it is a coalition from Governments, companies and groups of the civil society that establishes the global standards of transparency at oil's industries, gas and mining, investors and international organizations. The EITI's rules establishing the promotion of transparency of the entrances to local level. Publish What You Pay (PWYP) a global coalition of the civil society that urges these to that really there be a transparency and rendition of accounts.

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