Mining has done nothing for Bibiani

Mr. Mike Hammah, Minister for Lands and Natural Resources

I write to register my utmost displeasure over why mining has least contributed to the development of the Bibiani Ahwiaso Bekwai District.

Mining activities in the district date back to 1927, after the British discovery in the 15th Century, but has least contributed to the development of the operational catchment areas of the three known mine concessions.

The district can boast of endowed high grade gold and bauxite in the Bibiani, Chirano and Awaso mine concessions respectively.

The most abhorrent of the situation is the district capital, Bibaini, which hosts the largest mine concession among those in the district, has received little contributions from successive mining companies since 1927.

The district expects developmental benefits in the areas of health, education, water, human capital, capacity building, employment and many others, but successive companies have profited from our endowed resources without any sustainable environmental and human resource programmes.

The activities of successive mining companies have rendered most peasant farmers and retirees jobless, and who are finding it difficult to make ends meet.

It is imperative to note that miners have only mined to benefit themselves and their allies, as it was evidenced in the GHEITI (Ghana Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative) report for 2010, that Central African Gold, Ghana Limited did no production from its inception to its collapse, from 2007 to 2009. The Central African Gold Ghana Limited had huge discrepancies in tax obligations per the same report.

The defunct CAG Ghana Limited had again given the Bibiani Mine concession to another company, which is recently doing things we think will bring no benefit to the community.

It is against this backdrop, that I am appealing to the Minister of Mines to immediately intervene in the Bibiani mine matters, so that the town would benefit from mining, as sister mining communities like Kenyase, Konongo, New Abirem, and Nzema are all enjoying.

The mining companies should also respect their host communities by seeking the social license supposed to be granted by the people, as per the Minerals Commission’s instructional requirements.

The government should bear in mind that these mining activities have a high potency to reducing the ascending youth unemployment rate in the Bibiani District.

Let me, again, put it on record that the youth of Bibiani, and the district at large, shall resist and prevent any selfish activities of the mining companies in this district.

Thank you
Emmanuel Aidoo
Student (GIMPA)

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