Ghanaian Chronicle (Accra)
Clement Boteng
11 November 2008
(Page 3 of 3)
WACAM and the Concerned Citizens Association of Prestea campaigned against the mining operations of Golden Star Resources (Prestea/Bogoso Mine) which affected the people of Prestea, Himan and other communities. The pressure of the campaign compelled the Environmental Protection Agency to suspend the operations of the company on 28th September 2005 for about two months for the company to address some of the concerns of the affected communities.
WACAM had shared its community-based advocacy experience with NGOs and communities in Ghana, Senegal, Mali and Burkina-Faso. The experience sharing has been useful in the efforts of the ECOWAS Commission to harmonise policies and guidelines in the mining sector of the West African sub-region.
CHALLENGES
The weak mining laws in the country coupled with the delay of cases at the courts remain among the major challenges confronting WACAM. Like any human institution, WACAM also faces financial and logistical constraints. As at now most of WACAM's staff still work as volunteers. Harassment and threats of WACAM members and staff are very prevalent.
CONCLUSION
Whilst I congratulate WACAM and say kudos to both surviving and deceased founding fathers whose toil, struggle and selfless dedication have brought WACAM that far, I say more grease to the elbows of the Executive Director and his wife, affectionately called Mama Hannah, as well as the staff and the entire membership of WACAM.
The Executive Director of WACAM, Mr. Owusu-Koranteng has always maintained that the country's growing foreign direct investment and production in the mining sector had been destroying the national economy, the environment, community livelihood and human rights for the past 20 years. Though some remarkable feat has been achieved the advocacy of WACAM, the task ahead is even tougher.
Mining communities, I believe would enjoy to the fullest the benefits of the wealth God has bestowed on them if more vibrant human rights and environmental advocacy organisations like WACAM would spring up, stay focused and reject any form of inducement. With the slogan of WACAM, "WACAM-ASETENA PA", I end by saying "bonne anniversaire."
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