Livelihood & Environment Ghana (LEG), a non-governmental organisation, has rounded up a series of advocacy and training sessions on Ghana’s mining laws, especially Act 703 and L.I. 2175.
With support from STAR Ghana Foundation through AVID 2 program, the main goal was to help people have a better appreciation of Ghana’s mining laws so they would know their rights, what they should expect and how they can protect themselves when mining activities take place around them.
More than 3,000 people took part in these sessions, including women, young people, farmers and people with disabilities.
In all, 24 communities impacted by mining in the Ahafo, Ashanti, Western North and Eastern regions of Ghana benefitted from these sessions, which took place between February and March 2025.
Areas where the programme took place included Kenyasi Number One, Kenyasi Number Two, OLA Resettlement Site, Ntotroso/Gyedu, Tutuka/Dokyikrom, Adrobaa, Afrisipakrom and Susuanso in the Ahafo Region; Kobeng, Amanchia, Seidi, Anwiamu and New Dokyiwaa in the Ashanti Region; Adausena, New Abirem, Afosu, Hweakwae and New Yayaaso in the Eastern Region as well as Chirano, Surano, Akoti/Atwebo, Bibiani in the Western North Region.
Mr. Perez Ofori, who facilitated the sessions, mentioned the cost of damage to crops, building, or land, the fact that you can no longer use your land (even if it’s not destroyed), the income you used to earn from the land or business, any future earnings you were expecting, like cocoa you were planning to harvest in the coming years, the life of your crops, among others as some of the loses in terms of value that people are subject to when their lands are used for mining.
Compensation
He also stressed the need for communities to demand prompt payment of compensation as outlined in L.I. 2175, saying: “If a company fails to pay on time, it is legally required to add 10% interest for every month the payment is delayed. This part of the law is meant to protect affected people from unnecessary hardship caused by long waits for what they are rightfully owed.”
Mr. Ofori encouraged participants not to go through the compensation process alone if they are unsure of how amounts due them are being calculated.
He explained that the law allows people to seek help from qualified individuals such as agricultural officers, valuers or legal advisors or to appoint someone they trust to represent them during negotiations (L.I. 2175, Section 2(1 and 4)).
The Executive Director of LEG, Mr. Richard Adjei-Poku told our correspondent in Sunyani that the sessions were structured in a way that made it easy for the communities to grasp what was being taught.
Local champions
“We also talked about why it is important for local leaders to be honest and open in how they handle these issues. From these sessions, 240 community members were chosen to become local champions who will keep pushing for their communities’ rights,” he added.
He said beyond individuals, the forums actively involved key community groups and leaders with traditional authorities participating alongside youth groups, women’s associations, farmers and landowners, particularly those already impacted by mining operations
“We wanted everyone to feel included and understand what was being shared, we used a simple, engaging and people-friendly approach to run the education forums in the communities. Each forum was organized like a community durbar, a familiar style of gathering where people come together to discuss important issues,” he emphasised.
