Environmental activists have sued government in a quest to stop the proposed mining project which will see bauxite being mined in a the Atewa national forest. Their claims say that the mining will endanger their health and well-being, and also go contrary to the growing calls to increase nature reserves to combat climate change.
As part of governments $2 billion sinohydro deal signed with China, the proposed mine in the Atewa Range forest will see China gain access to bauxite used in making aluminium in exchange for financing infrastructural projects such as roads and bridges and also aiding in skills development in Ghana.
This sue came from four citizens and seven local advocacy groups, who made claims that their constitutional rights to clean and healthy environment and their right to protect it for future generations are being violated because of the mining in the forest. This came from their lawyer this week.
Seven local advocacy groups and four citizens claim that mining in the forest violates their constitutional right to a clean and healthy environment and their right to protect it for future generations, their lawyer said this week.
Head of Concerned Citizens of the Atewa Landscape, Mr. Oteng Adjei made a statement saying the
“The forest is our life”.
The concerned Citizens of the Atewa Landscape is one of the groups involved in the case that went to the High Court on the 1st of July 2020 according to reports.
He also said that
“Bauxite mining is a one-time payment. The government cannot bring back the original forest.”
An immediate response to the comments did not come from the governments spokesman as requested and the and the state-owned Ghana Integrated Aluminium Development Corporation (GIADEC) also declined to comment on the issue at hand.
President Nana Akufo-Addo previously said the bauxite can be extracted without disturbing the wildlife, and Ghana’s ambassador to China, Mr.Edward Boateng also on Wednesday on the occasion to mark 60 years of bilateral relations between Ghana and China reiterated the fact that the mining of the forest was going to be done responsibly which will see no damage or havoc being caused to the Atewa Forest and the environment as well.
GIADEC on the other hand has promised that the growing bauxite industry will create 35,000 jobs.
“It is unfortunate that time and again, citizens have to fight our own government before we can secure our environment,”.
Deputy national director of Rocha Ghana, Daryl Bosu said.
Rocha Ghana is also one of the conservation groups suing the government.
Scientists have estimated that at least a million species will face extinction in the next few decades and the United Nations wants governments to back plans to conserve 30% of the earth’s surface by 2030 at its Biodiversity Convention in China next year.
Local groups across Africa are becoming increasingly emboldened to use the courts to pursue grievances against mining firms, as they balance the need to boost growth and jobs with maintaining their dwindling forest cover.
According to reports, Ghana experienced a 60% rise in primary forest loss between 2017 and 2018 the highest rise in any tropical country, which resulted in trees being lost to illegal mining, logging and expansion of cocoa farms.
The Atewa forest is home to rare plants and animals and is the source of three major rivers that provide water to millions, including residents of the capital Accra, about 90 km away.
