The victim later died at a hospital from his wounds. In 2021, a security officer at gold mining company Adamus Resources Limited set an illegal miner ablaze to discourage him from intruding on the company’s concession. Local reports have captured previous incidents of violence against intruding illegal miners by large gold companies. Mining companies are not always the victims. “And if they are being given compensation it must be adequate,” he says. “We think that it will be proper for the government to consult the communities extensively before licences are given to the companies because the people have a sense of ownership of the lands,” Robert Ali Tanti, executive director of Center for Social Impact Studies, tells The Africa Report. Often the fracas between mining companies and host communities has been over the provision of employment opportunities, the award of sub-contracts and preventing locals from engaging in illegal small-scale mining on or near the concessions of the companies. Golden Star Wassa Limited signed a memorandum of understanding towards peaceful coexistence with leaders of 12 communities in its catchment areas in 2019, but the recent attack proves that the MOU has not been enough to guarantee peace.īecause the government has a 10% carried interest in mining companies, it appears they are always on the side of the companies… Gold constitutes more than 90% of Ghana’s total mineral exports and makes up about 49% of the country’s total export value – about $5.9bn, followed by crude oil and cocoa.Įfforts by mining companies to maintain cordial relationships with their host communities through educational scholarships, local employment and provision of social infrastructure have not always been successful. “This would not only reinforce the state’s role as a shareholder in all mining companies and owner of mineral resources, but guarantee a conducive environment for mining operations to be conducted,” he said.
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