Director urges use of mining revenue to tackle long-term development needs of local communities

By Benjamin Akoto, GNA

Kenyasi No. 1, (Ahafo), Feb. 11, GNA – Mr Richard Adjei-Poku, the Executive Director of the Livelihood and Environment Ghana (LEG), an environmentally centered Non-Governmental Organisation has called on Municipal and District Assemblies to use mining revenue to tackle the emerging development needs of mining communities.

He said judicious and equitable use of revenue in mining communities would address long-term development needs of those communities and alleviate their plights.

Mr Adjei-Poku made the call when speaking at the opening session of the implementation of the phase two of the “Social Accountability and Inclusive Governance Forum”, a volunteerism project, at Kenyasi Number One in the Asutifi North District of the Ahafo Region.

The forum was on the theme: “Enhancing equitable utilisation of mineral revenue through inclusive governance for sustainable development”, and was attended by traditional authorities, assembly members, heads of institutions, volunteers, Persons with Disabilities, youth groups and community members.

It was organised by the LEG in collaboration with the Ahafo Mineral Revenue Watch Volunteers (AMRWV), with support from the STAR-Ghana Foundation.

Mr Adjei-Poku explained that phase two of the volunteerism project sought to consolidate the gains chalked in phase one of the project, and thereby deepening engagement with key stakeholders to promote accountability.

He indicated that the long-term impact of natural resource extraction was enormous, calling for responsible management of mineral revenue for progressive and sustainable development, especially in the local communities.

Mr Adjei-Poku stressed that: “mineral or mining revenue should not be used for recurrent expenditure”, however ought to be channeled into critical, long-term development projects for the people to derive the optimum benefits.

He said those revenues ought to be invested in physical infrastructure development, scholarships for essential services, training in mining-related jobs, and other local development initiatives.

Mr Adjei-Poku noted that mineral resources were finite and ought to be utilised judiciously as mining communities could possibly face economic hardships, loss of livelihoods and irreversible environmental damage.

He advised assembly members to prioritise long-term social investments for their respective mining communities.

Madam Theodosia Kwebu Dadzie, a participant later told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that the forum had enlightened her and others and called on the organisers to extend it to benefit other communities and to deepen the people’s understanding on natural resource management.