The National Coalition on Mining and victims of mining related human rights abuses have welcomed the findings of investigations conducted by the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice, CHRAJ into human rights abuses in mining communities in Ghana. However it has called for an urgent implementation of the findings so that atrocities meted out by mining companies and their cohorts do not recur for peaceful coexistence of both parties. The group said though they are aware that the findings are not binding on the mining companies it is not ready to resort to court action for redress.
CHRAJ undertook the investigation in 2006 based on complaints by victims and individuals of human rights abuses. The report said after a systematic invitation into alleged abuses of social and economic rights of the communities affected by mining there is evidence of widespread violations of human rights. It listed inadequate compensation for destroyed property, unacceptable alternative livelihood projects; absence of effective channels of communication and consultation between companies on reckless cyanide spillage.
The findings of CHRAJ vindicated positions held by the coalition and therefore called for immediate and urgent action to be taken by government to correct the mistakes. The Coalition pointed out to the government to revise the current mining laws so that much more could be derived from mining operations.
