AGA, Obuasi indigenes tussle over adequate compensation package

Payment of adequate compensation to the Anyinam and Sanso communities in the Obuasi Municipality continues to create conflict and jeopardise the future harmony of the community and AngloGold Ashanti’s (AGA) operations in the area.

The community members are predominantly farmers and youth, and are calling for a comprehensive compensation plan to be implemented by AGA to ensure sustainable livelihoods for the inhabitants.

Indigenes, including chiefs and opinion leaders, complained that closeness of AngloGold Ashanti operations with the day-to-day activities of the communities offends the dignity of the inhabitants and oppresses their economic development in many ways.

In accordance with the Mining and Minerals Act of 2008, the sector minister has responsibility to ensure that people who are significantly affected by mining operations are adequately compensated.

“Other physical impacts such as the destruction of water-bodies, the erosion problems resulting from destruction of the natural topography, and disruption of drainage courses within and around the communities, the death-traps resulting from abandoned mine pits, among others, are impeding our livelihoods,” Chief of Sanso, Nana Efiamoah Kotoku Bawuah complained on behalf of the community during a tour by the Minister for Lands and Natural Resource, Nii Osah Mills. 

A visit to some communities by Minister Mills was aimed at acquainting him with operations of the Obuasi Mine, and also to familarise him with concerns from the communities as a result of operations of the mine.  

Consequently, mining operations and many day-to-day activities of the inhabitants intermingle. All the communities are trapped on all sides by the operational sites and other facilities of AGA.

Unfortunately, however, the impact of AGA's operations on Anyinam and Sanso is out of the ordinary and requires special attention.

“Our offence is that our land is rich with gold; now everywhere in the community is polluted, and the youth are not employed,” he said.

At a separate town-hall meeting of Anyinam and Sanso communities, opinion leaders argued that because the communities have been adversely and profoundly impacted by the operations of AGA, there must be comprehensive remedy for them as a whole. They proposed resettlement, if it is possible.

They observed that AGA has responded to the situation by the provision of, among other benefits, free electricity supply and borehole water to the communities. These are woefully inadequate and do not address in any meaningful way the awful impact mining activities have had on the very lives of people in the community.

As part of AGA's Mining Amendment Programme, which is currently before government for approval, it intends to withdraw electricity supply from these communities -- including electricity supply to the mechanised borehole provided to the people of Sanso as a replacement for the destruction of their traditional water sources.

This decision, according to the indigenes, will seriously affect their survival and livelihood in the community, as there is no major source of employment for the youth since farmlands have also been taken over by the mines and the water-bodies have also been polluted.

Minister Osah Mills, reacting to the concerns, proposed harmony for the community and the AGA management. He called for a comprehensive dialogue between the two parties to help resolve the challenge.