URGENT ACTIONS

Ghana: Gold mining company cuts off more than 700 people from their farms

CASES

OPEN LETTERS

Community members at Teberebie find it difficult to access their farms as a result of the location of numerous waste rock dumps in the area by the mining giant AngloGold Ashanti, Iduapriem Limited. They have for many generations used these lands for farming and as their only source of income.

This massive blockade to fertile land and the failure to provide replacement land or adequate compensation violates the community’s right to food. In addition, the failure of the state authorities to mitigate the loss of access to surface water sources and break down of boreholes constitutes a violation of the right to water. Thus, it is very important to ensure that the Ghana Government meets the request of the affected community for access to new farmlands to ensure their right to food and secure livelihoods. Please send letters to the President of the Republic of Ghana, Mr. John Kufuor and the Minister of Mines, Dominic Fobih. You are also invited to inform your country’s Executive Director on the Board of the International Finance Corporation (IFC) about the human rights violations in the context of this World Bank financed mining project.

Background

The village of Teberebie is located in the Wassa West District of the Western Region of Ghana. Mining in the Wassa West District, which is known to have one of the largest clusters of mines and mining companies on the African continent, has led to the destruction of large tracts of land. Lands that were previously used for farming and those that could be so used have now been swallowed up as mining concessions.

The South African mining company AngloGold Ashanti is one of the biggest internationally.  At Teberebie, where AngloGold Ashanti operates the Iduapriem mine, the intense blasting, vibrations, noise, dust, the increasing waste dumps and the loss of access to land and water, are taking a toll on community members. The Iduapriem mine is partly owned by the World Bank’s private lending arm IFC (International Finance Corporation) which currently holds 2,5 Million US Dollar investments in the mine. Moreover, since 1990, about 45 Million US Dollar have been provided by IFC in loans to the Iduapriem mine.
 
The waste rock dumps of the Iduapriem mine which are steadily growing in size with heights of more than 50 meters are fast taking over lands that were previously used for farming, especially traditional and subsistence agriculture. For most people access to their farm lands is now an uphill task since almost all the routes to their farms have been blocked by tonnes of waste rock dumped in the area. Some community members now have to walk long distances to their farms through winding footpaths. Others also have to walk between six and nine kilometres to search for new farmlands. Neither the company nor the responsible state institutions have acted to guarantee access to land for farmers. The absence of replacement farmlands is affecting food security in the area.

Furthermore, the people of Teberebie report that all nearby streams are contaminated with toxic substances that run off from the waste rock dumps. The streams are thus no longer fit for drinking or washing, women and children now have to walk long distances in search of water. Fish that once thrived in the streams and rivers in the area have also disappeared due to the pollution of the water bodies in the area by mining operations of the company.

According to community members, three boreholes, which have been provided by the company for the over 700 inhabitants, have all broken down. “Now we have to walk several kilometres in search of water. Others have no choice but to look for money to buy bottled water. We just don’t have money to continue buying water, but we are thirsty”, a resident of Teberebie argues. 

Persistent complaints by community members about the lost access to surface water sources,  broken down bore holes and the devastating impact of the increasing waste dumps on their farms and livelihood have not yielded any positive results. Despite the increasing problems and suffering of the people, AngloGold Ashanti, Iduapriem Limited continues to renege on promises it has made to address the problems. The people of Teberebie ask for the immediate restoration of lands and livelihoods for displaced farmers and the provision of clean and adequate water for all the communities affected by AngloGold Ashanti, Iduapriem Limited. They also urge the International Finance Corporation to take immediate action in this regard, as the situation constitutes a violation of human rights and of constitutional guarantees, as well as a violation of World Bank environmental and social standards.

FIAN Mandate

Ghana is a State Party to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, as well as the African Charter on Human Rights and therefore is obliged by international law to respect and protect the rights of the communities in the Western region. The state of Ghana has to protect the Right to Food and Water of the communities affected by the activities of AngloGold Ashanti in its Iduapriem mine. In addition, those states who carry obligations under these international agreements and who are represented on the Board of Directors of IFC, have to ensure that AngloGold Ashanti does not continue to infringe on the Right to Food and Water of the communities affected by its mining projects.

URGENT ACTION 0705UGHA

View the Urgent Action in a print format