The one-day workshop, held at Kenyasi, benefited 27 Assembly members and exposed them to some of the environmental and socio-economic challenges associated with gold mining, including loss of livelihoods, loss of lives, deforestation, land degradation, disputes and conflicts.  

The workshop was organised by LEG with support from the STAR Ghana Foundation under the second phase of its volunteerism project.  

Speaking at the opening session, Mr Richard Adjei-Poku, Executive Director of LEG, said the first phase of the project identified and trained 15 dedicated volunteers from mining communities.  

The volunteers, known as the Ahafo Mineral Revenue Watch Volunteers, were tasked with promoting transparency, accountability, and the efficient utilisation of mineral revenues in the district.  

Mr Adjei-Poku said the group worked to ensure that revenue generated from mineral extraction translated into tangible and sustainable development projects for mining communities.  

He explained that the volunteers organised sensitisation fora and engaged various community groups, including churches, to educate residents on development projects funded through mineral revenues.  

“Previously many community members have little knowledge of these infrastructure projects and have begun questioning the benefits of mining to the communities,” Mr Adjei-Poku stated.  

Mr Perez Ofori, a resource person, urged the Assembly Members to prioritise sustainable development projects that would provide long-term benefits to communities.  

He emphasised the need to actively involve community members in decision-making processes and ensure the equitable allocation and utilisation of mineral revenues for impactful development projects.  

Mr Ofori identified loss of livelihoods and lives, deforestation, land degradation, disputes and conflicts as some of the major challenges confronting mining communities.  

He added that economic hardship and diseases such as HIV, syphilis, gonorrhoea and malaria were common in many mining areas.  

According to him, some of these challenges were directly linked to mining activities, making it imperative for local communities to derive maximum benefits from mineral revenues.  

Mr Ofori urged the Assembly members to advocate for the use of mineral revenues for the provision of educational and health facilities, potable drinking water and good road networks in mining communities.  

He also recommended investment in employable skills training for the youth and educational scholarship schemes to create employment opportunities and improve livelihoods.  

Mr Ofori emphasised that Assembly members had a responsibility to ensure transparency and accountability in the utilisation of mineral revenues and to guarantee that the resources were used for the development of the communities.  

LEG is a research and advocacy organisation that promotes community rights, environmental justice, sustainable livelihoods and active citizenship, while engaging policymakers on mineral governance and policy reforms in the extractive sector.