Rocha Ghana together with its partners has called on traditional leaders in the Eastern region to reject the idea that mining of the Atewa Range Forest Reserve would create jobs for their teeming unemployed youths.

According to the group, most traditional leaders, especially those within the Atewa enclave have failed to appreciate why they (NGOs) are kicking against the mining of the forest reserve, as they had been misled to believe that mining Atewa is tantamount to job creation.

Rocha Ghana’s partners in the fight against mining in Atewa were Concerned Citizens of Atewa Landscape, Eco-Conscious Citizens, Ghana  Youth Environment Movement, Eco-Care Ghana, KASA Initiative, Boakye Twumasi-Ankra, and Nana Asante.

President of Concerned Citizens of Atewa Landscape, Oteng Adjei said at a press conference in Accra last week Friday, that some of the chiefs have been misled to throw their weight behind mining exploration would have dire consequences on the environment.

He argued that what some of the chiefs have come to believe is anything to go by, Awaso, which has hosted bauxite mining for over 80 years, would have been a shining example.

Per his observation, bauxite mining at Awaso has not improved the economic, and social circumstances of the people but the total devastation of their environment. He called on the chiefs to consider the fact that the prospective mining companies would not require so much workforce, as the excavation would be done by machines. 

Mr. Adjei added that the Chiefs and about 46 communities around the forest should avert their minds to the domestic and industrial difficulty that would be visited on citizens should the mining be allowed. The Concerned Citizens president regrettably said the Densu and Birim rivers, which take their source from the north part of the Atewa Range Forest Reserve would be affected as well as wildlife.

Daryl Bosu, Deputy National Director of Rocha Ghana, added that while his organization is not against the development of bauxite mining in the country, it is concerned with Atewa Range Forest because it is a water source for three major rivers – Ayensu, Birim, and Densu – in the country. He said many countries are facing one of the worst droughts in world history, therefore, making water a scarce resource. Ghana urged to take a cue since it cannot afford to import water.

According to him, the youth, in particular, should be highly concerned with the development of the Atewa forest because mining activities coupled with climate change would destroy the forest cover that protects the watershed and expose millions of people to water insecurity.

“We reiterate that regardless of how small the area planned for the bauxite mining, Atewa must not be mined for bauxite…Ghana can have a thriving integrated aluminum industry without targeting Atewa Forest, in order to save crucial water sources for 5 million Ghanaians. Failure to heed to this call will be intergenerational suicidal and reckless.”

Lack of transparency          

 Mr. Bosu also accused the government of acting in secrecy with the issuance of the prospecting license to Ghana Integrated Aluminium Development Corporation (GIADEC) on July 27, 2022. And, this is a complete disregard for Ghana’s Minerals and Mining Act (Act 703), which requires transparency in granting minerals rights.

“We believe they have done this to push through their agenda with the minimum of resistance from local communities, civil society, and all Ghanaians concerned about the Atewa Forest and Ghana’s future,” he said. “Certain information provided by GIADEC and government also appears misleading…”

He said in order for the government to minimize resistance from the citizens, the sector ministry did not notify the relevant District Assemblies about the application for mineral rights

Similarly, while the government has made the citizens believe that just a fraction (1.9%) of the forest would be mined but the prospecting license of GIADEC published on the Ghana Minerals Commission website reveals that almost half of the northern part of Atewa Range Forest Reserve would be mined.

“We see this development to be extremely serious breaches of Ghanaian’s trust, and in some cases breaches of administration procedures, guidelines and laws regarding mining in protected forest reserves by the Government of Ghana itself,” he added.