Stakeholders Slam Government's 'Mining Over People' Policy
Stakeholders Slam Government's 'Mining Over People' Policy
A multi-stakeholder forum in Accra on Tuesday, March 25, 2025, which brought together representatives from civil society organizations, regulatory institutions, community members, and traditional authorities has condemned the government's policy of compulsory land acquisition for mining companies. The stakeholders argued that the government's power of eminent domain was often misused to benefit multinational mining companies at the expense of local communities.
While the government has the power of eminent domain to acquire lands for public interest, the stakeholders argued that this power was often misused to benefit multinational mining companies. They, therefore, called for a more inclusive and equitable approach that prioritises the rights and interests of local communities.
The event, organised by A Rocha Ghana, Wacam, Centre for Public Interest Law (CEPIL), Merton and Everett, and Oxfam in Ghana, aimed to critically examine the government's use of compulsory land acquisition and the absence of Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC). It also sought to advocate legal and policy reforms, as well as promote best practices.
The event, themed "Rethinking Compulsory Land Acquisition and FPIC in the Extractive Sector: Ensuring Equity, Environmental Sustainability, and Inclusive Development," brought together representatives from civil society organizations, regulatory institutions, community members, and traditional authorities from Tano North, including Terchire, Susuanso, and Afirisipakrom in the Ahafo Region and Nzema communities in the Western Region.
These communities have directly been affected by the government's compulsory land acquisition policies. According to the participants, proper community engagements were often lacking in these cases, and the government sometimes failed to follow proper procedures for compulsory land acquisition.
They lamented that this has led to widespread hardships among community members who have been adversely affected by the government's use of its power of eminent domain. Speaking during the forum, the Divisional Chief of Bakata community in the Ellembelle District of the Western Region, Nana Aka Nwonza, expressed concern over the government's failure to inform chiefs and allodial owners before granting environmental permits to companies.
"The companies would just storm our lands to operate commercial mining projects," Nana Aka Nwonza said. "When we confront them about who gave them permission, they claim the government has already granted them permits." He emphasized the need for the government to review its unauthorized acquisition of lands in mining-prone communities.
Mr. Joseph Adu, Secretary of the Concerned Farmers Association-Terchire, expressed his discontent with the government's compulsory seizure of their farmlands, which were then given to Newmont Ghana Gold Limited. He noted that this action has left many farmers impoverished, as their livelihoods have been taken away.
The stakeholders' concerns highlight the need for greater transparency and accountability in the government's land acquisition processes. The 1992 Constitution and the Lands Act of 2020 (Act 1036) set out clear rules for compulsory land acquisition, stressing the importance of balancing individual property rights with the greater public good.
To address these concerns, the stakeholders called on the government to ensure that community engagements are meaningful and inclusive, and that proper procedures are followed for compulsory land acquisition. This, they noted, included providing adequate compensation and resettlement packages for affected communities.
“Ultimately, the government must strike a balance between promoting economic development and protecting the rights of citizens,” they proposed. Earlier, presentations were made on the "Overview of Compulsory Land Acquisition Policy and Legal Frameworks: The Case of Tano North and The Case of Petroleum Hub."
Lawyer Augustine Niber, Executive Director of the Centre for Public Interest Law (CEPIL), and Oliver Barker-Vormawor of Merton & Everett LLP, led these discussions. Additionally, the Associate Executive Director of Wacam, Mrs. Hannah Owusu-Koranteng, delivered a comprehensive presentation on the "Overview of FPIC, Policy and Legal Framework in Ghana," shedding light on the intricacies of FPIC in the Ghanaian context.