WACAM condemns Brong Ahafo
Regional Police Commander’s intimidating tactics
Accra, Nov. 29, GNA – The Wassa Association of
Communities Affected by Mining (WACAM) has
condemned the intimidating tactics of Brong
Ahafo Regional Police Commander, Assistant
Commissioner of Police (ACP) Opare Addo and the
arrest of the West Africa Regional Governance
Advisor of Oxfam America, Ibrahima Aidara and
six others.
A statement signed by the Executive Secretary of
WACAM, Mr Daniel Owusu Koranteng on Wednesday
said the arrest of Mr Aidara and six activists
of WACAM took place on Monday November 27.
The statement said Mr Aidara was holding a
meeting with the Yamfo Community, one of the
communities affected by the mining activities of
Newmont Gold Ghana Limited, to solicit first
hand information before a scheduled tour/meeting
with officials of the Newmont Ahafo Mine Project
Site on November 28.
It said ACP Opare Addo accused the organisers of
holding a meeting at a public place without
permit. Since when was a state of emergency
declared in Yamfo to demand that permit be
obtained before private meetings are held?
WACAM said: “It is shameful and an act of
cowardice that poor, powerless citizens cannot
freely organise a private meeting to discuss
issues bothering their livelihood because they
are not complying with the desires of a powerful
multinational company.”
The statement said WACAM was “worried about the
spate of Police brutalities on poor and
defenceless mining communities usually
instigated by powerful and influential mining
companies”.
WACAM said it was ”disappointed that this
incident happened a few days after Her
Excellency Mary Robinson, Former United Nations
High Commissioner for Human Rights had issued a
release calling on both the Government and
mining companies to take steps to end growing
violence in mining communities perpetrated by
security agencies”.
The statement urged Newmont to stop using the
Police or the Military to brutalise and violate
communities’ rights to have meetings, peaceful
protests and demonstrations.
The Company should also recognise and respect
human rights in accordance with socially
responsible corporate practice as well as
implement appropriate mechanisms for
consultation, participation and dialogue with
relevant stakeholders, within appropriate time
frames and timely information as a way of
reducing mistrust and conflicts.
GNA
