KASA Initiative Ghana advocates policy reforms to address illegal mining at 15th annual forum

The KASA Initiative Ghana held its 15th Annual Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) Natural Resources and Environment Sector Review Forum from December 3 to 4, 2024, at the Erata Hotel in East Legon, Accra.

The forum, themed “Confronting the Scourge of Illegal Mining: Required Policy Change and the Role of Political Commitment,” gathered representatives from seven coalitions of NGOs and CSOs dedicated to addressing issues related to natural resources in Ghana.

 Key Issues Addressed

In a communique delivered by Steering Committee Chairman Mr. Albert Katako, participants underscored the alarming consequences of illegal mining on both the environment and local communities. The forum identified several critical issues:

1. Environmental Degradation: Illegal mining activities result in the contamination of water bodies, depletion of fisheries, deforestation, and a significant loss of biodiversity.
2. Socioeconomic Disruption: These activities jeopardize livelihoods, lead to land dispossession, and pose dire health risks due to pollution.
3. Legal and Regulatory Challenges: Inconsistent laws, lack of enforcement, and weak policies contribute to the ongoing crisis, providing opportunities for illicit financial flows and organized crime.

Recommendations for Action

The forum concluded with a series of targeted recommendations aimed at reforming policies and practices related to illegal mining across various sectors:

Forestry

– Revocation of Mining Concessions: The government should revoke all mining concessions in forest reserves, establishing these areas as off-limits to mining.

-National Forest Restoration Program: Implement a comprehensive restoration program for degraded forest areas affected by mining activities.

– Transparent Allocation Processes: Enhance transparency in the allocation of mining concessions to prevent corruption and inefficiency.

Fisheries

– Impact Assessment: Conduct thorough assessments of fisheries resources to determine how illegal mining affects fish populations and water quality.

– Strict Enforcement of Mining Prohibitions: Enforce a ban on mining in water bodies and designated fisheries habitats.

– Monitoring Systems: Establish River monitoring systems to track and report pollution levels caused by mining.

Land

– Revising Legislation: Repeal the Minerals and Mining Act of 2006 to enhance protections for land and the environment.

– Legal Support for Communities: Offer legal assistance to community members, particularly displaced farmers, whose land rights have been infringed upon.

– Awareness Programs: Improve public awareness of land documentation processes at the community level.

Water and Sanitation

– Shadow Report Development: Create a shadow report on water pollution’s impacts on health and livelihoods, sharing findings with the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and Environment.

– Buffer Zone Legislation: Accelerate the development and implementation of laws to protect buffer zones around water bodies.

– Increased Regulatory Funding: Allocate more resources to regulatory bodies, such as the Water Resources Commission and the Environmental Protection Agency, to better safeguard water resources.

Mining

– Repeal of LI 2462: Repeal regulations that permit mining in forest reserves to protect vulnerable ecosystems.

– Updating Mining Laws: Revise the Minerals and Mining Act to better reflect contemporary industry practices and enforce existing laws against illegal mining.

– Support for Small-Scale Miners: Facilitate access to geological data and financing for small-scale miners to minimize environmental degradation.

Oil and Gas

– Regulated Fuel Supply: Introduce a controlled fuel supply system for small-scale mining to prevent unregulated practices.

– Effective Monitoring Mechanisms: Establish monitoring systems, including undercover operations, to deter illegal mining activities.

– Review Tax and Revenue Sharing: Modify the tax and revenue-sharing frameworks to ensure mining communities receive greater benefits from resource extraction.

Climate Change & Environment

– Enact Strong Protections: Develop and enforce robust legislation to protect sensitive environmental areas from mining destruction.

– Innovative Support Mechanisms: Introduce climate finance and agricultural insurance to help communities mitigate the effects of illegal mining activities.

Conclusion

The KASA Initiative Ghana calls for urgent policy reforms and strong political commitment to combat illegal mining effectively.

The forum concluded with a unified call to action for all stakeholders, including government entities, civil society, and local communities, to collaborate in protecting Ghana’s natural resources and promoting sustainable development for future generations.

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