A one-day validation workshop on human rights violations in the Ahafo North and Akyem Projects’ areas of Newmont has ended with a clarion call to the government to enforce the strict compliance with Ghana’s mining laws.
The call was made by participants including representatives from civil society organisations (CSOs), Assembly members, and community members affected by mining, and members of the Ghana Association of Small-Scale Miners.
The participants said the strict compliance with mining laws was crucial for ensuring that mining companies such as Newmont operate responsibly and respect the rights of local communities. The workshop was organised by the Centre for Public Interest Law, in collaboration with Wacam and Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), with funding from Oxfam.
The event, held in Sunyani, Ahafo Region, on Thursday, February 27, 2025, highlighted the growing concern about human rights violations in the Ahafo North and Akyem Projects’ areas of Newmont Ghana Gold Limited (NGGL).
The participants further emphasised Newmont’s responsibility to respect, protect, and promote the human rights of their host communities.
According to them, Newmont’s Ahafo North and Akyem projects have a disturbing track record of human rights violations.
Earlier, Dr. Samuel Obiri, a researcher on ‘Assessing Environmental and Human Rights Effects of Newmont Ghana Gold Limited (NGGL) Ahafo and Akyem Projects,’ presented key findings from his draft report.
He noted that Newmont’s two projects continue to be marred by human rights violations, including dwindling community participation, inadequate compensation for affected communities, and the government’s use of eminent domain to compulsorily acquire lands of farmers for the company for mining purpose, which has resulted in many farmers losing their livelihoods.
According to Dr. Obiri, Newmont’s land acquisition process in the Akyem area was marred by controversy. Many residents he interviewed, he said, reported being informed by company officials or local leaders that their land was rich in gold deposits and that the government had already granted Newmont a mining permit.
In the Ahafo North area, for instance, he disclosed that approximately 80 residents claimed that their land was seized through compulsory acquisition after they rejected the company’s compensation offers.
Dr. Obiri further explained that Newmont’s mining activities in Ahafo and Akyem have resulted in limited community engagement and a constrained civic space. Most residents, he indicated, felt uneasy about the mine’s presence, adding that residents also expressed frustration over delayed compensation payments, which they believed violated their fundamental human rights.
The report highlighted that these payment delays were a clear violation of Article 20 (2a) of the 1992 Constitution, which stresses the importance of prompt compensation payments
The Executive Director of CEPIL, Mr. Augustine Niber, expressed that it was heartening to see people listening to concerns raised by civil society organisations (CSOs) and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) about the issues surrounding mining practices in Ghana, which, if left unaddressed, could have far-reaching consequences for future generations.
“We’ve been mining for decades, but there are areas that require refinement to maximise benefits while minimising impacts,” he said.
“As NGOs, our role is to educate communities about the pros and cons of mining, while also providing early warning signals to prevent the mistakes of the past from recurring,” he further added.
He recommended that a portion of the cash compensation received by affected communities in mining areas be converted into equity in the mining company, ensuring that compensation is not limited to a one-time payment.
While thanking the participants, he assured them that CEPIL, along with other CSOs, will persist in advocating improvements in the country’s extractive sector.
