A Group of nine civil society organizations, led by Livelihood and Environment Ghana (LEG), has submitted a comprehensive policy proposal to the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources (MLNR) and the Minerals Commission (MinCom) calling for amendments to the Minerals and Mining (Compensation and Resettlement) Regulations, 2012 (L.I. 2175).
Presenting the proposal on behalf of the group, Mr. Richard Adjei-Poku, Executive Director of LEG, described the existing legislative instrument as outdated, noting that several of its provisions are inadequate in addressing current compensation and resettlement challenges facing communities affected by mining activities.
Among the proposed changes is a call for the amendment of Regulation 6(1), which currently requires mineral rights holders to resettle displaced inhabitants on “suitable alternative land.” Mr. Adjei-Poku emphasized the need for the regulation to be contextually grounded by legally defining what constitutes “suitable land,” “economic well-being,” and “socio-cultural values” in the Ghanaian setting.
The proposal also recommends that the imposition of moratoriums on mining activities be enshrined in law, with clear procedures and a time limit not exceeding one year. In addition, the coalition is advocating for a “land-for-land” model, where farmers who lose their farmlands to mining operations are compensated with an equal amount of farmland.
A significant innovation in the proposal is a new compensation model, which includes investing part of the compensation in interest-bearing financial instruments. The accrued interest would then be paid to recipients at regular intervals, preferably quarterly, to provide sustainable financial support over time.
Furthermore, the proposal urges an amendment to the regulations to mandate that all mineral right holders develop a Gender Action Plan, with specific focus on women’s economic empowerment in mining-affected communities.
The Group includes prominent civil society organizations such as the Integrated Social Development Centre (ISODEC), Third World Network – Africa, Publish What You Pay (PWYP), Natural Resource Governance Institute, WILDAF, Netright Ghana, SYND, NCOM, and the host organization LEG.
The meeting formed part of activities being implemented by LEG under the Voice, Influence and Inclusive Development (AVID-2) project with support from STAR- Ghana Foundation.
In response to the submission, officials from the Ministry and Minerals Commission commended the group for its diligent work and confirmed that the proposals would be considered as part of the ongoing review of the 2014 Minerals and Mining Policy of Ghana. They also acknowledged the upcoming revisions to both L.I. 2175 and the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703), and welcomed continued input from civil society organizations.
Livelihood and Environment Ghana (LEG), founded in 2004, is a research and advocacy NGO that promotes mineral resource governance, environmental justice, sustainable livelihoods, and community rights in Ghana.
By: Mohammed Suleman
