JOINT STATEMENT BY THE WASSA ASSOCIATION OF COMMUNITIES AFFECTED BY MINING (WACAM) AND THE CONCERNED

JOINT STATEMENT BY THE WASSA ASSOCIATION OF COMMUNITIES AFFECTED BY MINING (WACAM) AND THE CONCERNED CITIZENS ASSOCIATION OF PRESTEA ON THE SUSPENSION OF MINING OPERATIONS OF BOGOSO GOLD LIMITED

C/o P. O. BOX 558
Tarkwa

3rd October 2005

The Honourable Minister
Ministry of Environment and Science
Accra

Dear Madam,

The Wassa Association of Communities Affected by Mining (WACAM) and the Concerned Citizens Association of Prestea wish to commend the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for taking a bold step to suspend the mining operations of Bogoso Gold Limited (BGL) in Prestea.

We further commend the Parliamentary sub-committee on Environment and Science for responding to the concerns of the people of Prestea and organising a public meeting with the community on the environmental, social and health implications of the mining operations of Bogoso Gold Limited.

We wish to draw attention to the fact that EPA gave the order for the company to stop its mining operations in Prestea about three weeks ago but the company flouted the order and continued its mining operations until 28th September 2005. The continued struggle and vigilance of the people of Prestea, Himan and Dumase against the mining operations of Bogoso Gold Limited helped in the enforcement of the directives of EPA.

It would be helpful to recall that Bogoso Gold Limited flouted the environmental regulations of the country when it operated new tailings containment without approval from EPA resulting in the cyanide spillage by the company in October 2004, which affected river Aprepre.

Similarly, it took a long struggle of the people of Dumase to stop BGL from operating an active pit so close to the Dumase town that rocks were hurled from the pit to the homes of residents of Dumase. Dumase is facing acute water shortage and the communities on the concession of BGL are facing many problems from the mining operations of BGL including the shooting of a farmer in Dumase.

Whilst commending the suspension of the mining operations of BGL we wish to draw attention to the fact that the operations of BGL in Prestea have left the people with many problems that need to be addressed by Bogoso Gold Limited. The problems include but not limited to the following:

• Establishment of mine pit close to Children’s park which poses a major risk to residents
• Establishment of rock waste dump near Government Hospital
• Cracking of buildings
• Pollution and destruction of community source of water with mine waste
• Destruction of Television sets, Video Decks, Fridges etc by the blasting operations of the company
• Effects of mining operations on the Police station
• Shooting of peaceful demonstrators.
  

We wish to state that these are important problems that would have to be addressed by Bogoso Gold Limited.

We wish to express the gratitude of the people of Prestea, Himan and Dumase to the media, organisations and patriotic Ghanaians who have supported their legitimate struggle for self-determination.

We recognise that the challenge would be how to sustain the new freedom and we would count on the support of EPA and all Ghanaians in ensuring that the pain and suffering is not inflicted on the people again.

Many mining communities in Ghana face similar or worse problems resulting from the operations of mining companies.

We therefore call on Parliament to be guided by the experience of the Prestea, Himan and Dumase struggles to enact mining laws that would protect mining communities against such ordeals that result from mining operations in settlements.

cc

Hon. Minister
Ministry of Lands, Forestry and Mines
Accra

The Executive Director
EPA
Accra

The District Chief Executive
Wassa West District
Tarkwa

The Managing Director
Bogoso Gold Limited
Bogoso

SIGNED FOR CONCERNED CITIZENS ASSOCIATION OF PRESTEA

Mr Godfred Ofori ……………………………………...................Chairman
Mr Kwesi Blay ……………………………………………………Secretary
Mr Eric Sherwood…………………………………………………Organising Secretary
Mrs Rose Adjetey………………………………………………….Queen mother of Aketsiwa
Hajia Hajara Sani ………………………………………………….Women’s Organiser
Ms Anita Esi Annan………………………………………………...Member
Miss Mary Ackoon…………………………………………………..Member

SIGNED FOR WASSA COMMUNITIES AFFECTED BY MINING

Mr. J. A. Osei…………………………………………….................Chairperson
Mr. Daniel Owusu-Koranteng………………………………………Executive Director