Mining Reforms Under Threat-CSOs

Abdulai Daramani flanked by Dr Yao Graham (right) and another official of TWN

The on-going mining reform initiatives are under threat, particularly from a number of emerging policy initiatives, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) have intimated.

The policy initiatives include the Natural Resource Charter, the Africa Mineral Governance Programme by the World Bank as well as the Multilateral and Bilateral Investment Treaties.

In Ghana, there have been calls for increase in royalties as well as revenue in order to benefit mining communities and the country.

A statement issued by Third World Network Africa on behalf of a number of civil society groups called for speedy completion and implementation of the harmonization of existing policies and formulation, adoption of norms which enhance cooperation.

It therefore urged African governments to improve understanding and quality of the reform agenda and secure maximum support for it while remaining united in their commitment to forge ahead with the reform as an alternative paradigm to mining on the continent.

It demanded an equitable solution to climate change which it stated must arrest global warming and facilitate Africa’s development.

These were part of recommendations made by 32 members of the Africa Initiative of Mining, Environment and Society (AIMES) that attended the 13th annual strategy meeting in Harare, Zimbabwe last week.

The 32 members of AIMES were drawn from DR Congo, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Mali, Sierra Leone, Uganda, and Zambia among others.

The 13th annual strategy meeting was undertaken because of on-going mineral policy reform initiatives, the climate change negotiations leading to the preparation towards Rio+20 that is United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development. The meeting took place when there were growing threats to the Africa’s mining reform agenda and the essential outcomes of the climate change negotiations and the Rio+20 meeting.

Based on shared analysis and understanding of the issues discussed, the statement added that the meeting made observations including the potential of mineral resources to enhance socio-economic development.

Others were the scramble for the continent by old and emerging economic powers due to implementation of the liberalized mining regimes and the failure of the current mining regimes.

The CSOs agreed to work together to influence the reform agenda by raising awareness, resisting threats and promoting norms, which promote community rights, environment, human rights and fiscal regimes.

Abdulai Daramani, Head of Environment and Mining at TWN, commenting, said if the current regulation was allowed to persist the country and the continent stand to loose immense revenue while the environment will also be damaged.

The 13th annual strategy meeting was structured to build the capacity of African civil society organizations to enhance their advocacy on the reform agenda.

By Charles Nixon Yeboah