GOLDEN GREED

TROUBLE LOOMS OVER GHANA'S FOREST RESERVES

By Mike Anane

Dozens of bulldozers, excavators and other heavy earth moving equipment belonging to five multinational mining companies operating in Ghana will soon tear apart several thousand hectares of forest reserves in the Ashanti, Western and Eastern Regions of the country. If the government gives them the green light to haul out what they describe as rich deposits of gold beneath the ancient forest reserves.

According to the miners, they discovered the staggering volumes of gold deposits beneath the lush green forests when the previous National Democratic Council "NDC" government gave them free rein to scavenge the forest reserves for gold. But the government then did not live up to its word of giving them the go- ahead to exploit the gold once they make a discovery.

"After the exploratory exercise in the forest reserves, we told the then NDC government that we had found economically viable mineral resources in the forest reserves and we needed permits to enable us go into actual gold mining by the surface mining method. But for some strange reason they decided to play hardball with us till they left office.

Now the NDC is no more and we want the present New Patriotic Party (NPP) government to grant us permits to throw out the trees and the animals in the forest reserves to make way for full-scale surface mining operations. Fact is collectively we spent over 10 millions dollars in the reconnaissance and prospecting exercise and we have to recoup our money" the miners disclosed.

Mr. Ben Aryee, Chief Executive of the Minerals Commission confirmed in recent interactions that five companies had indicated to the commission that their exploration investment in the forest reserves had identified economically viable mineral resources and they were requesting for mining leases to enable them move into actual mining. He however explained that the issue was currently before cabinet.

Further discussions with Mr. Edward Nsenkyire, Chief Director of the Ministry of Environment Science and Technology (MEST) also indicated that MEST was yet to prepare a report on the issue for the attention of cabinet. Mr. Nsenkyire disclosed that the Environment Minister, Prof. Dominic Fobih had just returned from a field trip together with Mr. Kwadjo Adjei Darko, Minister of Mines and Prof.. Kasim Kasanga Minister of Lands and Forestry. "The three of them visited the forest reserves to see things for themselves and I believe they will be briefing cabinet soon" He said.

"It is true that rich deposits of gold have been discovered in the forest reserves" Mr. Kwadjo Adjei Darko Minister of Mines also confirmed in an interview. He however declared that "So far as my Ministry is concerned there are certain things that we want people to get clear. We inherited the problem from the past Government, whether they were coerced into granting the prospecting licenses to the mining companies or not we do not know but we are in a crisis and we do not know what to do in the present circumstances".

The Minister disclosed that "Some mining companies were given permits to do prospecting in the reserves by the past administration, the Forestry commission, EPA and all the relevant statutory bodies were party to it. The companies invested millions of dollars and found gold deposits in commercial quantities in the reserves.

Are we justified morally in saying that these mining companies that invested money and discovered the Gold should not go into the forest reserves again? Do we also have to leave those rich deposits of gold there in the ground whilst we have a lot of problems on our hands such as poverty, under development and unemployment?" Mr. Kwadjo Adjei Darko asked.

He added that "It is true that we have to preserve the forests but nature has also given us these resources to be tapped and managed for development, so it is the way we go about it in order not to offset the balance. So this is the position of the Ministry that how do we maintain the balance and the procedures by which whatever has been destroyed can be reclaimed if it is done the proper direction.

"If we say we won't allow them to mine in the reserves what signals are we sending to other investors? It means this is a country where investments are not secured, where there are a lot of uncertainties and by the stroke of the pen you can lose your investments and monies. So we are at a crossroads and as a nation what do we do?

This is what we should look at not whether we should mine or we should not mine it. As a Ministry, we have looked at all sides of the equation and our stand is that they should be allowed under strict supervision, we will make sure that enough money is set aside for restoration so that the balance will be eventually obtained" The minister explained.

Mr. Kwadjo Adjei Darko however lambasted NGOS who had commented on the issue "for looking at one side of the equation" and stated that "the developed countries that are now at the forefront of environmental concerns took advantage of coal to develop during the industrial revolution. They mined it and used the proceeds for development and with technological advancement, they were able to correct whatever imbalance that was created as a result of the mining of coal".

Echoing similar sentiments expressed by the mining companies, the Minister added that "some of these areas that they are calling forest reserves are only on paper as forest reserves some of them have been logged and farmers have taken over some of them".

"Let me say that to my mind, it will not help us as a country to sit on the reserves only for illegal miners to rush into these areas and destroy the forest reserves with no environmental planing, no reclamation plan and no income to the state. If we can ensure that the mining companies go about their mining plans properly, reclamation is on course it will benefit the nation. We will also ensure that the companies embark on alternative livelihood projects in the communities" The Minister declared.

He disclosed that the companies have assured the government that when given the permits, they will site all their activities outside the reserves and it is only the actual mining that will take place there but all other activities will take place outside the forest reserves.

Honorable Kwadjo Adjei Darko disclosed that the "present administration will give out the forest reserves to the mining companies rather than allow galamsey boys whose activities we cannot control to do irreparable damage to the forests. So if the companies can give us their environmental plans which will ensure that the damage that will be done to the forest reserves will be very minimal and reclamation will be done to restore the forest to its original state we will not have much problem with it"

But environmentalists and human rights activists who spoke to this writer say they have a gripe with this kind of thinking and any attempt by government to deposit the forest reserves into the laps of the mining companies for surface mining operations will be resisted.

They point out that the looming destruction of the country's forest reserves by the mining companies and their allies is worrying and a matter of concern since the protected forests in the reserves are some of the country's last relatively undisturbed natural forests. They are also sensitive habitats to a number of forest bio-diversity and critical to water conservation.

Granting of permits for surface mining in these ecologically fragile reserves will also aggravate the already alarming rate of deforestation and forest degradation in the country. and wreak havoc on freshwater systems and watersheds.

They explained that surface mining operations which require the clearance of vast stretches of top soil and vegetation can pose threats to bio-diversity through the clearance of the forest reserves and wildlife and also severely affect food and cocoa production particularly in the communities fringing the reserves.

"It takes forty years for these forests to regenerate and once you dig up any portion of the forest reserves you change the character of the place forever" The environmentalists lamented.

They further revealed that rivers and streams crisscross nearly all the forest reserves and feed the country's major rivers such as the Birim, Pra, Ankobra, Bonsa Offin, Densu, Tano and others which are sources of water supply to many communities including our cities

"Operating a surface mine which requires heap leach facilities and the use of highly toxic chemicals such as cyanide and arsenic in these forest reserves with all these water bodies which are sources of drinking water is just not right"

The Environmentalists fear that when the rains come, the water will run off the tailings or waste from the mining activities in the forest reserves into these rivers making them turbid. Concerns about surface mining and heap leaching have been triggered by the lethal impact of Cyanide. Scientists point out that a teaspoonful of a two percent solution of cyanide can kill a human adult by blocking the absorption of oxygen by cells effectively and causing the victim to suffocate. It is widely believed that cyanide even at low levels could have serious health effects in long term chronic exposures, The mining industry however insists that cyanide is rendered harmless when exposed to sunlight.

Describing the demands of the mining companies as "outrageous, without merit and irresponsible" The environmentalists asked "what do these mining firms take us for, having destroyed the dense forest canopy in the western region you want us to give you permission to cannibalise the remaining forests in the reserves, we will never allow the mining companies to have a field day in the forest reserves, we will fight and fight hard on this one" the environmentalists warned.

They were however quick in urging the present government not to be complicit in the destruction of the last vestiges of Ghana's forest resources as the issue could garner international attention and create a public relations liability for the government.

The Environmentalists also denounced the previous NDC government "for allowing prospecting in the forest reserves and for showing a deliberate and reckless disregard for the conservation of a unique ecosystem all in the name of profitability". They pointed out that "in the long term, prospecting operations may be as damaging to the ecology as the actual mining operations itself in addition to the direct loss of forest in construction of access tracks which they said could open up prospected areas to loggers, farmers and poachers.

The mining companies pushing what many describe as "a misguided and outright dangerous plan"include mining titans such as Chirano Goldmines Limited, Satellite Goldfields Limited, Nevsun/AGC, Birim/AGC, Newmont Ghana limited.

The forest reserves that the mining firms are drooling over include the Subri River Forest Reserve, a Globally Significant Bio-diversity Area which is also the largest forest Reserve in the country and a critical watershed between major rivers such as the Bonsa and Pra. Others are the Supuma Shelterbelt, Opon Mansi in the Western region, Tano Suraw and Suraw Extension also in the Western region, Ajenjua Bepo in the Eastern region, Cape Three Points reserve in the Western region and the Atewa Range forest reserve near Kibi in the Eastern region which is also believed to be the most mineralised reserve in the country.

The Atewa forest reserve which protects the head waters of the Birim, Densu and Ayensu rivers has been declared by various local and international conservation group as a Special Biological Protection area as well as a Globally Significant Bio-diversity area. Experts disclose that Atewa contains many plants species such as two unusual kinds of tree ferns which are found nowhere else on earth as well as six endemic butterfly species.

Disputing claims by proponents that these forest reserves exist only on paper since they have long been degraded by loggers and farming activities, the environmentalists maintained that "the forest reserves are un-spoilt, squeaky clean and contain the only significant blocks of forest remaining in the country, whiles others are shelterbelt reserves established to hold back fires and maintain local rainfall and humidity levels.

Abraham Osei, a member of the National Executive of the Timber millers Association who spoke to this writer also scoffed at the demands of the mining companies and described as misleading claims that the forest reserves to be laid to waste by the miners are already degraded by the timber industry. He contended that logging does not destroy whole forest bio-diversity as does surface mining.

"Are they saying that we have degraded it so they are going to further destroy it entirely, I do not think that its good to allow them to go into the forest reserves to dig gold, even when we go in to log, we select" He declared.

Abraham Osei further pointed out that "surface mining is far worse than logging, after the miners have removed all the vegetation they plant leuceania, cassia, eucalyptus. These species are not of any relevance not even as firewood and the land never gets back to anything near the original"

According to the environmentalists, the reserves provide sanctuary for a stunning array of species listed as internationally threatened with extinction these include 34 plants species,13 mammals, 8 birds and two reptiles. Several species of forest monkeys, frogs, lizards, snakes and over seven hundred types of trees can also be found in the reserves.

Uncommon birds such as hornbills, parrots, Icterine Greenbul, Great Blue Turaco, the Blue headed bee eater and other birds of prey some of which are believed to be either extinct or rare in other parts of the world including about 23 species of butterflies that are classified as endemic have also been sighted in some of the reserves.

They lamented that if the present government grants the mining companies their wish, they will blast roads deep into the heart of the forest reserves, build camps and excavate vast stretches of top soil together with the age old trees. Tonnes of earth and rock debris avalanching down hill in some cases will also blanket rivers and streams and smother the spawning beds of fish.

The Heavy influx of mine workers and roads that are etched into previously inaccessible areas may also bring boomtown conditions and attract more squatters, loggers, galamsey boys, Lotto kiosks and container shops into the reserves. It is also feared that the expatriate staff of the mining companies often armed with sophisticated weapons will chase the bush meat for their dinner tables.

"With the human presence in the forest reserves also comes another potentially far-reaching threat of alien invasive species which could hitch a ride on a mining equipment or a pair of boots and prey on native species in the reserves many of which have never developed defensive mechanisms.

Increase in noise levels and ground vibration in the forest reserves as a result of the use of explosives and heavy earth moving equipment in drilling and blasting during ore extraction and the trucking of ore to the processing plant could also drive animals in the reserves into the open arms of poachers".

Internal memos and reports sighted by this writer however reveal that the move is not enjoying a free ride within official corridors as the issue is provoking a rumble of disbelief, deep seated anger, intrigue, discord and disapproval among some highly placed government officials.

Some officials who are against mining in the forest reserves are already seething with discontent over the attention that their colleagues in government are giving to the demands of the mining companies. They told this writer that they were angry, dismayed and disappointed.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, they disclosed that "while the NPP Government did not dream up the "dangerous" idea of allowing surface mining in the country's forest reserves some of its officials have been among its most enthusiastic supporters".

They explained that "These remarkable forest reserves in Ghana are part of the earth's last un-fragmented forest blocks. Though not providing the instant wealth promised by gold, these forest reserves nevertheless are gold in another form - Treasure troves of rich bio-diversity and natural services that, if properly managed, can provide substantial economic returns indefinitely.

How can anyone dream of giving miners the permission to conduct surface mining operations in forest reserves. This kind of land use is clearly incompatible with the conservation status of the reserves which are home to some of the country's endemic, threatened and vulnerable plant and animal species and rather merit complete protection"

Mounting evidence also confirm that that some key personalities are resolute on the plan and are positive that optimizing the exploitation of mining is a strategic way to speed-up economic recovery in the country even if the minerals to be mined are in conservation areas. A key argument of the hard-line proponents of mining in the forest reserves is that "This country needs money, lets get the trees and wildlife out, get the gold and the forest can be replanted and the animals will come back".

At the heart of this argument is the economic theory that suggests that "developing countries should exploit their natural resources to develop, there will be pollution, displacement of communities etc. but these are the necessary and inevitable side-effects of the larger good goal of providing jobs and modernising the country. For any country to go forward there are risks and we have to take these risks if we want a positive outcome. Let us worry about the environmental effects of growth when we are already developed and rich".

For George Ahadzie, Executive Director of GREENEARTH organization "this development is indeed worrying, we need to look long term and consider the future in our actions. We need to understand that short term economic gain is not a responsible choice nor is it sustainable, we need to understand that real economic prospects are all tied in and dependent on the care and preservation of our natural resources"

He indicated that "even our very opportunity to exist as humans depends on the very capacity of the forests to support living things, but that capacity in this country continues to be threatened and damaged in many instances beyond its ability to regenerate"

[George Ahadzie, Executive Director of GREENEARTH organization] He expressed fear, that plans to conduct surface mining operations in the forest reserves will sound the death knell for the rest of the country's forests and wildlife and impoverish local communities. Valuable historical and archaeological sites in some of the reserves including sacred groves: ritual sites held sacred by communities will also be destroyed. Agricultural lands and important watersheds will also be endangered and the magnificent reserves turned into an industrial eyesore, blighted by roads, pipelines, construction debris, discarded sardine tins and plastic bags.

George Ahadzie urged the government to recognize the enormous social, environmental and lost opportunity costs of the proposed surface mines in the reserves and make a responsible decision to turn down the request of the mining firms.

The situation facing the country also alarms Conservation International's Director of Programmes who explained that the fragile forest of unquestioned scientific value tucked away in the reserves are critically important for maintaining biological diversity. "They perform priceless services to humanity, that is why they were set aside by the colonial administration and designated as protected areas to be maintained in a relatively undisturbed state requiring strict protection with minimal human disturbance"

He stated that the forest reserves were set aside to protect watersheds, bio-diversity and agricultural productivity in the southern zone.

"To allow mineral prospecting and exploitation in the forest reserves particularly surface mining will mean that we are removing the conducive or appropriate ecological and environmental conditions that are required to maintain optimal agricultural productivity". He stressed

He further disclosed that the Miss Waldron's Red Colobus a species of monkey that once foraged the rainforest in the South-western part of the country has not been sighted for sometime now and is feared extinct. It is believed that Miss Waldron's Colobus is endemic to the forests of South Western Ghana and South -Eastern Cote D'ivoire.

Though mining cannot be singled out as the main factor for the extinction of the Miss Red Colobus Monkey, David Kpelle believes that mining in forest reserves should be given a serious thought since there are presently few areas outside the reserves where viable populations of larger mammals can be found.

"Allowing mining in the reserves will simplify the structure of the remaining forest habitats and remove ecological niches leading to further diminution of species diversity. For these reasons I will not support mineral exploration and exploitation in the forest reserves" he told this writer.

"It was wrong to allow mineral exploration in the forest reserves in because once you allow it and commercial quantities are discovered the mining companies will lobby for their exploitation and we cannot trust the miners to reclaim or put back the original forest cover.

It is not practical for man to intervene or to recreate the original forest cover. For example when we look at the forest system we have the bats, duikers and monkeys which are responsible for seed dispersal and pollination and actually they are responsible for maintaining the forest structure. This is what is responsible for maintaining the forest integrity to allow the forest to function as maintaining the type of forest cover" David stressed.

Ishmael Jesse- Dodoo in charge of conservation programmes at the Ghana Wildlife Society also pointed out that "Government needs to look at what the interest of communities are, what the interest of conservationists are, and what the interest of development practitioners are. If there are any areas designated as important Bird areas under the Bird life criteria or Globally significant bio-diversity areas we need to leave them out because they are our only reservoir of relics of representative species of interest not only to Ghana but the international community as a whole".

"We have ratified several international protocols which require us to abide by some of these regulations. We therefore need the moral courage to look at the issues at hand dispassionately and I think it is important for us to do a cost benefit analysis. We should not always look at the money, it is transient we should be looking at issues like sustainable Tourism, alternative livelihood programmes, food security etc, options that can sustain the livelihoods of present and future generations.

Some people talk about sustainable mining, what is it, that makes it sustainable, lets see the criteria, we want to go into a national debate on this issue. We want to see the standards and the criteria for which they are saying that this is sustainable mining, nobody is objecting to development but what we want to see is sustainable development, something that is compatible with environmental conservation, because it is a moral issue. Lets debate, there could be options, for all you know we can develop a model of mining and forestry management, who knows. We have both a moral obligation and a priceless opportunity to save this natural legacy" Ishmael Jesse Dodoo explained.

At a recent anniversary celebration of the Wassa Association for Communities Affected by Mining (WACAM) held in Tarkwa, Mr. Samuel Kangah General Secretary of the General Agricultural Workers Union of the Trade Union Congress also condemned the Mining Companies for planning to take over some of the country's forest reserves and other protected areas.

"The question we ask is, what is the real cost of such investments, what is the cost to our generation and the generations that would follow. We believe agriculture is the number one contributor to the Gross Domestic Product of the country and would continue to be so for many years to come. What is in place to attract investment into agriculture sector to make agriculture more sustainable and motivate the youth to go into agriculture"? Mr. Kangah asked.

He disclosed that large tracts of lands have been committed to the extractive industry, adding that this is at a very high cost to the environment, human life and livelihood "and we cannot continue to deplete our natural resources under the guise of poverty."

Friends of the Earth's Abraham Baffoe also admits that the fundamental dilemma facing most developing countries has always been how to balance man's economic urgency with nature's ecological vulnerability.

"But we can prosper as a nation without having to raze down our forest reserves for mining, I do not think that the mining companies should be allowed to operate surface mines in the reserves". He declared.

"Just look at this country's forest estate, We had about 8.3million hectares now were left with only 1.2 hectares and we still want to give out some more for mining when we know very well that after the mining there will be no forests. They're trying to tell everyone that they can reclaim degraded sites but just go round and see what these companies mean by reclamation.

We should not deceive ourselves, its not just a matter of planting grass and trees here and there but the fact is that plantations do not make forests. In fact if the reserves had not been established we wouldn't have any forests left by now. I am greatly worried that forests reserves such as Oppong Manse, Subri river forest reserve and Tano Suraw Extension are going to be given to these mining companies. This is certainly a wrong move" Abraham Baffoe lamented.

The move is also likely to face stiff opposition even from timber interests who say that the country will soon loose all its timber if the miners have their way as virtually all the timber rich areas are also sitting on gold.

"Are they trying to tell us that if they find Gold beneath the Akosombo Hydropower Dam they will destroy the dam? Indeed granting the miners license to mine gold in the reserves will be a bad precedent says Abraham Osei a member of the National Executive of the Timber millers Association of the Timber millers Association.

The mining industry continues to take much flak from local and international environmentalist and human rights activist and local communities who accuse the industry of a consistent pattern of complicity and responsibility for human rights abuses and environmental degradation particularly in the Wassa area and Obuasi.

Following these blistering criticisms in recent times, a number of mining companies are now mastering public relations skills with increasing finesse. They have embarked on a major initiative to bolster their image and tell the world that the proposed project in the forest reserves will have benign consequences on the unbroken sea of lush green forests.

Led by industry heavy weights such as Chiraano Goldmines Limited and Gold Fields Ghana Limited, the mining companies have increased their spending on community development and promoted visits of delegations of legislators and other government officials to some reclaimed sites and forest reserves which they claim are sitting on the "golden eggs".

With supporting fire from the Minerals Commission and Chamber of Mines, campaigns have also been initiated to bombard the public with success stories of the mining industry, particularly how they have embarked on forest plantations in areas devastated by mining, how they will limit their surface mining operations to only a small percentage of the country's forest reserves and how they will manage the forests sustainabily.

The miners maintain that if given the go ahead, they will conduct environmental impact assessment before proceeding with the project and they will also employ the best available technology to ensure minimal pollution and they will clear up every last scrap of waste they generate in the forest reserves. But critics completely discount the industry's assurances and also doubt the capacity of the state regulating agencies to enforce these regulations.

Environmentalists and Human Rights activists point out that over the years, safety problems and cases of broken promises have plagued the mining industry. According to them nothing has changed as the mining firms continue to wrack up abysmal environmental records and show utter disregard for community interest in preserving the environment and culture.

Assurances by the mining industry that they will abide by "Guidelines for Mining in Forest Reserves" prepared jointly by the country's Environmental Protection Agency, Forest Services Department and the Minerals Commission has also been dismissed outright by environmentalist as a sham. The argument is that the production of the document was funded by the mining industry and it cannot be trusted since it merely parrots the wishes of the mining industry who are interested parties.

Owusu Koranteng Executive Director of the Wassa Association of Communities affected by Mining (WACAM) points out that "sometimes sustainablility lies in the eyes of the beholder" and its too early for the mining companies to flaunt what they believe are the success stories of surface mining in Ghana. "They just don't have these virtues yet, the record of the mining industry is not cause for optimism, the western region is there for all to see what these mining firms mean by sustainability". Mr. Owusu explained.

He contends that operating surface mining projects in the protected areas just doesn't make sense when you figure in the health and environmental risks involved. Annually two million acres of forest land is lost annually to mining, granting the miners permits to enable them operate in the reserves will result in the clear cutting of several hectares of forest reserves in a country that is already experiencing one of the world's highest rates of deforestation.

On reclamation, Owusu Koranteng explains that these ancient forest reserves in Ghana are found in only a few other nations, as such they are an irreplaceable part of the Earth's natural heritage. "They can't be replaced with forest plantations which are often monoculture. The impact of forest plantation on the country's bio-diversity can be disastrous as indigenous species are threatened, displaced and replaced with most often fast growing and genetically inferior introduced species and improved varieties. In plantations, the mix of trees and under story species is different, the altered ecosystem usually cannot support the full array of native species" He said.

He adds that Surface mining has sullied water bodies and wreaked havoc on bio-diversity in many parts of the country. "Some of the rivers and streams are so fouled by mining that they are capable of catching fire" he disclosed.

"Sometimes, I wonder what the mining companies and their friends mean by they are only asking for a small part of the forest reserves. The fact is, once you start tearing out swaths of ecosystems you upset the existing balance in ways that harm even areas you didn't intend to touch" Owusu noted.

For Joachim Ayitey of the League of Environmental Journalists "many species of mammals, birds, and inverterbrates require continous canopy cover to maintain their required habitat size. These animals in the forest reserves need space, large contiguous areas of habitat, linked by viable verdant corridors to enable them to maintain a viable breeding population. To compromise on this by allowing just a little exploratory and prospecting activity in only a small part of the reserve area is like being locked up in a tea kettle".

Visits to the Western Region of Ghana reveals that Wassa land is a painful example of the devastation of livelihoods and the environment as a result of surface mining. Drinking water is polluted, fish have disappeared from the rivers and streams and crops have ceased to grow on large stretches of now infertile land.

Detailing the impact of mining in the Wassa area, Thomas Akabza, a lecturer at the Geology Department of the University of Ghana and author of the much acclaimed publication -"Boom and Dislocation" points out that. "While mining companies and central government reap the benefits of mining if any, very little benefits go to the people in the mining communities. These people who mostly practice traditional and subsistence agriculture are displaced from their land on which they farm leading to loss of livelihoods and the breakdown of social ties. Additionally mining has led to growing conflicts among communities displaced by mining operations as well as serious mining related health and social problems such as malaria tuberculosis, conjuntivitis, skin diseases, prostitution and drug abuse".

He further reveals that "the Wassa west district has the highest incidence of malaria in the entire western region, causing the highest mortality among children in the area and the highest annual incidence of malaria in the country" This, according to Akabza is attributable to surface mining.

The Wassa West district is known to be the single largest agglomeration of mines and mining companies in the entire African continent. The district has over eight international mining companies operating surface mines.

According to Akabza mining concessions have taken over 70% of the total land area resulting in the destruction of large tracts of land and the scramble for farmlands. Lands that were previously used for farming and those that could be so used have now been swallowed up as mining concessions. Consequently, food production has decreased considerably, creating the conditions for increased food prices.

Concerns have also been expressed about inadequate housing as mining has led to the displacement of thousands of people. Akabza points out that between 1990 and 1998 a total of fourteen communities with a population of over 30,000 people were displaced. He revealed that the Environmental Impact Assessment of four mining companies operating in the area also gave a total number of populations to be displaced as 22,267, from 20 communities.

Human rights violations also continue to rise with several cases of arbitrary arrests, violations of the right of access to food, forceful evictions, Inadequate compensation and demolishing of villages.

A recent fact finding mission conducted by Ghana's Human Rights and Administrative Justice in the Wassa area confirmed these reports when it also found "overwhelming evidence of human rights violations occasioned by the mining activities which were not sporadic but a well established pattern common to almost all mining communities."

As forests bio-diversity and freshwater are destroyed, the livelihoods of many people particularly poor communities are threatened as they frequently suffer most as their local environmental resource base deteriorates. The majority of rural poor in Ghana derive their livelihoods directly from the rich natural resources or in the forest around them or the primary employment that these resources provide such as farming. The depletion of the forest reserves will therefore mean a depletion of their livelihoods.

Often the first to feel the brunt of the degradation of the country's natural resources, some of these poor communities in some parts of regions of the country are organising for control of their natural resources and against multinational corporate projects to extract resource wealth from their lands.

Local opposition to large-scale surface mining projects has however been particularly fierce and continues to grow after GOLDFIELDS Ghana Limited spilled several volumes of Cyanide into the river Asuman at Abekoase in Ghana's western region la couple of years ago.

Networked with each other nationally regionally and even globally, mining affected communities worldwide are refusing to tolerate mining and other projects that despoil their land, threaten their health and destroy their livelihood. As they assert long ignored rights their counterparts in Ghana have also stepped up the struggle for human rights, self-determination and social and environmental justice and also calling on private lenders particularly the International Finance Corporation (IFC) to reject mining projects that create problems for communities.

For the communities fringing the forest reserves that the mining firms are eyeing, the consequences of allowing surface mining in the forest reserves are far too disturbing to contemplate. From Asankragwa, Enchi-Yakasi and Nyame Bekyere, Cape Three Points, Daboase, Huni Valley,Bonte, Sansu, Twifo Praso, Abekoase, Bibiani Sehwi Wiawso to New Abirem the villagers say they are seasoned enough to know how adept the mining industry is at circumventing regulations.

The unfolding drama over mining in the forest reserves is about their lives and they stand united in opposition to the impending project despite promises that the mines will bring jobs, electricity and paved roads. They explain that the almost impermeable expanses of rainforest in the reserves protect a complicated web of tiny rain-fed ribbons of streams and rivers which serve as their sources of drinking water.

"When the forest reserves are destroyed, the rivers will dry up and so will our lives" They declared.

"We have heard it all before they came with all sorts of promises but we saw nothing, they devastated our lands and livelihoods and showed little respect for basic civil rights. Our rivers and streams are now polluted with cyanide and arsenic from mining. Fish have disappeared from the rivers, and streams. Even snails, mushrooms and some medicinal plants are no longer available in the area. Crops also find it very difficult to grow on the large stretches of now barren land.

Our villages have already been so rapaciously deforested by mining and the health and the quality of remaining forests continue to decline and now they are asking for the forest reserves, do they think Ghanaians wash their faces from their chin upwards. Please write all that I have said and tell the authorities that I said so. Stressed Akosua Birago a sixty-two year old farmer at Abekoase in Ghana's Western Region

"When we went into the forest to plant cocoyam, plantain and pepper to feed our families, government people chased us out and told us not to farm there again. They told us it's a forest reserve and farming is not allowed there, they would'nt even let us collect snails from the reserves but now government itself wants to send bulldozers there to destroy the forests because the white man says so. My brother is this fair? When a poor man cuts a stick or kills a rodent in the forest reserve he is thrown into jail, when a mining company pulls down a forest reserve the big men from Accra travel all the way here to celebrate with him, is this fair?" asked Sisi Nana, a thirty year old mother of four at Bibiani.

For Owusu Koranteng, Executive Director of the Wassa Association of Communities affected by Mining (WACAM) the picture that is shaping up is déjà vu and the importance of moblizing citizens in defense of the forests and their livelihood is clear. "The Ministry of Mines, the Environmental Protection Agency and Chamber of Mines and related agencies have limited personnel and resources to monitor their mining contracts. Further, these agencies do not coordinate efforts to conserve forest resources and sometimes subordinate long-term conservation priorities. As for the mining firms its also impossible to expect self regulation from them in the present highly competitive economic circumstances. Mining in this country has left a legacy of impoverished communities and environmental despoliation just look at all the mining towns".

Farmers in the Ashanti, Western and Eastern regions who spoke to this writer also raised a storm of protest explaining that deforestation in their villages is already drying up the soils and denying their crops of the much needed shade they needed to blossom and they cannot afford to lose the forest reserves.

This was corroborated by Yaw Sekyi of the FIAN Coordination in Ghana who explained that the forest reserves help to ensure agricultural productivity and soil fertility by helping to maintain the moist atmosphere required by food crops. He explained further that the forest reserves influence on a large scale levels and distribution of rainfall and the tropical hydrological cycle.

'Forests can be critical to agriculture, once you take away the forest, the land that is left becomes nutrient deficient and prone to erosion, this would affect productivity of farms and even cocoa plantations in the area. Tearing down the reserves could therefore have devastating impact on food security and facilitate the violation of the right to food" He noted.

He explained that agriculture in the western region thrives on fertile soils in humid shady and rain -rich environment that is best provided for by forest reserves. Deforestation distorts local climatic patterns by increasing local temperatures and reducing rainfall. It also reduces soil fertility through erosion and leaching.

"Farming in Ghana is predominantly rain-fed, therefore the change in local climatic conditions as a result of deforestation can lead to poor prediction of rainfall patterns by farmers with its attendant low food production" Sekyi added added.

David Kpelle of Conservation International also explained that Cocoa, Oil palm and other food crops and farming activities in general in the forest zone need certain ecological conditions if you want to attain high productivity, the colonial masters realised that and decided to set aside these forest reserves.

"We have been complaining that our cocoa production has been declining, it could be due to the fact that the appropriate ecological conditions are no more in the Cocoa growing areas of the country." David explained.

Lambert Okrah Coordinator of the Institute of Cultural affairs is also of the view that we need to look at whether it was even appropriate for the former government to give out prospecting licenses based on the legal code that established the forest reserves.

"Was it abrogated before the land use change was proposed? If it was not abrogated then the mining companies have themselves to blame. It is not a government reserve but a national reserve and for it to be gazetted as a forest reserve it had to go through some processes. If it has not been de- gazetted to allow surface mining then I'm sorry, no one can help the mining companies"

"Because it means that they did not even pass through the right channel in the first place. Secondly, if it has been de-gazetted for land use change to take place then it behoves on the current administration who realized that the past government made a mistake to compensate the mining companies. But I believe that it was not de-gazzeted, it did not go to parliament, it did not go to anywhere and it was illegal for the government to do that". Lambert declared.

Dr.Yao Graham, Coordinator of the Third World Network, Africa Secretariat in an interview also pointed out that "The old law is very clear, there is no automatic movement from a prospecting license to a lease, the question is, was the government then acting in the best interest of the nation?

Because I do not think that the kind of internalisation of costs and broad cost benefit analysis which is required for that kind of decision was made by the government. We will like them to provide the evidence which points to the fact that in terms of the nation's choices what they promised the mining companies is a better choice for this country, everything considered".

"Let me give you the example of the United States, when there was the huge gold rush many people made huge fortunes, people became millionaires and multi- billionaires and the money remained there. Point me one millionaire created by more than a hundred years of exploitation of gold in Ghana, just point me one Ghanaian who has been made a millionaire by gold, its as simple as that stressed Dr. Yaw Graham of the Third World Network.

He explains that huge fortunes have been made by all kinds of foreign firms operating in Ghana but the returns do not remain in the country.

"These are extractive industries which are linked to circuits of exchange and accumulation outside this country.

That is even before we come to the ecological question, the issue is who is benefiting, when we talk about gross investments nobody has even tried to make an analysis about what is the actual investment as opposed to the gross investments. Lets have a proper discussion about the true economics of mining even before we come to the ecological issues involved" Dr. Graham added.

"It s not a case of whether we should go hungry whiles the gold sits beneath the trees. Gold Mining has been going on in Tarkwa, Prestea and Obuasi for so many years now are the people there not hungry? These places are so desolate that you will never believe they have gold. Look at Samreboi, they have given this country so much timber and what did they get in return, go there and you will see stark poverty. Reclamation will not benefit any one, how will the carpet grass and Acheampong grass or leucocina benefit anyone, those trees are not indigenous to those places. What about the wildlife, what about the groundwater and streams, will they restore them. As for me, I think we should just leave the gold in the forest reserves and look at other options" Institute of Cultural Affairs' Lambert Okrah fumed.

Joshua Appau of GREENEARTH Organisation also asked "can't we see the peril in these kinds of development models, cant we see that other countries are seizing the opportunities offered by environmentally friendly technology and practice?

The fact is, there can be no economic recovery if previously biologically rich and luxuriant habitats are turned into desert wastelands"

According to Joshua "this tear down the forest reserves approach to economic revival will not work. Since mining has never decreased poverty". He challenges the purported benefits for local people arguing that many developing countries with similar economic and social problems have come up with creative solutions.

Information from Ghana's Chamber of Mines suggest that the industry contributes about 40 per cent of Ghana's gross foreign exchange earnings and directly employs about 18,000 people.

It is however widely believed that in terms of employment generation, the sector has a relatively limited capacity to generate employment, this is because surface mining operations are technology intensive. As Micheal Ross also points out in a recent report by Oxfam America" extractive industries tend to rely on a small number of highly -skilled workers, in many cases these workers are expatriates.

A ccording to the findings of a research report on the social and environmental impacts of Mining in the Wassa West District of Ghana, the perceived importance of the sector to the economy is reflected in the foreign investment over the past ten years. But despite the massive investment of over $2 billion, its yet to make any impact on the country's overall economy.

The report which was sponsored by ThirdWorld Network attributes, the dismal input of the sector to the country's development to the level of foreign exchange earnings allowed in offshore accounts of the various mining houses, adding that only a small percentage of their earned foreign exchange actually trickles back into the national economy.

"Due to the liberal mining policies, most companies are now operating open pit mines with relatively short span: and with generous tax incentives provided in the form of capital allowances. The companies enjoy virtual tax holidays throughout their operation and most often run out of reserves and close before they are ready to pay corporate income tax" Says the report.

The role of the World Bank and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) the private lending arm of the World Bank has played out most notably in discussions regarding the impact of mining on human rights and the environment in Ghana. Over the years they have promoted resource-led development and cajoled African countries to deregulate, liberalize and privatise their extractive sectors to attract foreign direct investment. They have also provided start-up capital for mining ventures in the country.

In an interaction with a team from IFC in Accra recently, Dr. John N. Middleton, team leader, Mining, Environment and Social Review Unit, Technical and Environment Department of the IFC disclosed that the IFC has a natural habitat policy which prevents them from doing anything that will destroy a critical natural habitat.

This was when he was asked whether IFC will invest in mining projects in forest reserves in Ghana. Dr. John Middleton explained that the IFC uses IUCN definitions of what a critical habitat is and "IFC will not invest in a project that will degrade a national park for example. If it is a primary forest I do not think we will go there, If it means destroying a forest reserve then no, if it's a secondary forest then we will see. If it conflicts with international Conventions on biodiversity and nature conservation then no"

He however stated that IFC will also look at the issue on a case by case basis. "I can't really give you a blanket no or yes to your question" he added. Meanwhile Ghana's Minerals Commission, in collaboration with the World's Bank, is in the process of reviewing the country's Minerals and Mining Law

Ghana is just one of the countries mourning the death of its forest and observers believe that surface mining in the forest reserves is clearly diametrically opposed to the government's professed approach to sustainable forest management and a stab in the back of local and international efforts and commitment to conserve and maintain forest reserves and other protected areas.

The looming destruction of the forest reserves therefore makes a mockery of natural resources management and could defeat well-intentioned forestry reforms. It may also set the stage for incursions into other highly mineralised Biological Hotspots such as the Kakum National Park, Ankasa and Nini Suhyien, Bia and the Bui National Parks.

Research indicates that the forestry sector currently in Ghana employs over 15 percent of the country's workforce in both formal and informal sectors. Eighty-three tree species in the country will also be extinct within five years and thirty more species within the next fifteen years and the nation could become a net importer of timber and other wood products as many of our prime species are being pushed into economic extinction from deforestation.

At the dawn of Independence in 1957, the country had 1.8 million hectares of lush green forests draping parts of the country and nourishing the land and teeming wildlife. But the fabric is now in tatters, slashed by loggers, mining, clearance for agriculture and bush fires. According to the Ministry of Lands and Forestry only about 1.2 million hectares of forest is left with less than 2% of its native tree cover remaining. Experts further reveal that 65,000 hectares of forests are lost annually in the country

The bulk of the remaining forests are in forest reserves, very little closed forest remains outside the forest reserve network much of it in small scattered patches in the form of secondary forest and sacred groves- ancient stretches of woodland preserved as abodes of gods and spirits.

Investigations reveal that the controversy over the exploration and possible handing over of parts of the country's forest reserves to the mining industry had been simmering within official circles for sometime now. But there hasn't been any public consultation on the issue, local communities were not consulted and the proponents managed to keep a lid on a potentially explosive situation.

A former head of one of the government departments who does not want to be named told this writer that he warned the previous government that the potential damage of allowing prospecting in the forest reserves and subsequent exploitation of the "lucky streak" could be severe as it could lead this country into more poverty and environmental crisis but he was consistently disregarded by the bureaucrats and he found enemies rather than allies.

"I was dismissed as a lunatic, naïve, anti-development a Spy and called various names, so I kept mute. The fact is, these miners are influential, they have the financial means and they can be ruthless, so you do not joke with them he cautioned.

Critics have been quick to accuse the EPA, the Ministry of Environment, the Forestry and Wildlife departments and related agencies of silent complicity. The Ministry of Mines, Chamber of Mines Minerals Commission and the past government were particularly scolded for pushing a wasteful and environmentally damaging project.

The stunning conflict of interest is now raising eyebrows and many believe that when state regulatory agencies promote the destructive interest of mining industries they are supposed to keep in check then something is wrong somewhere. They will therefore band together with the environmentalists and human rights activists to save the Country's forest reserves.

Ghana is signatory to a wide range of international agreements and conventions on advancing protection of the world's forest and biological diversity. It was the 12th of the 157 countries which signed the convention on biological Diversity during the earth summit in June 1992 and has since August 1994 ratified the convention. In countless speeches at local and international fora including the just ended World Summit on Sustainable Development, the Ghana government continues to state its commitment to bio-diversity and forest protection.

Observers however point out that "if we are serious about protecting our environment and the resources we must be about action not words. Fine speeches are not enough, the reserves contain the largest expanse of tropical forest left in the country, they are a hub of bio-diversity, this is where our last animals mate, give birth and suckle new and this national heritage should not be put on the chopping board".

Prosperity built on despoliation of the natural environment is no prosperity at all, only a temporary reprieve from future disaster. We should be tackling poverty in a direct manner and not try to do it through large multinational mining companies in the hope that something will trickle down to the poor"

Despite these strong opposition and fore-warnings of environmental damage and possible violations of human rights, the mining companies say they are already in motion and if all fails they will go to court and bring war to anyone in the way of the proposed project and fight them trench by trench. The NDC government gave them permission to look for gold in the forest reserves, they have spent millions of Dollars on the exploration and prospecting exercise as well as other preparations. They have struck vast deposits of gold and the government must deliver the forest reserves into their laps to atone for the cost they incurred.

For now, they will continue to step up pressure on the government to grant them permission to throw out the animals and the trees so they can dig out the gold.

"We shall close down our operations in Ghana and relocate to Tanzania or Guinea where they have more friendly legal mining environments" and others such as "we might go out of business and forced to throw out our workers onto the streets if we are not allowed into the reserves" are some of the more common threats adopted by the mining companies lately.

Established as forest reserves by the first ordinance number fifteen of the British colonial administration of 1911 and 1927 to safeguard and maintain environmental and ecological stability and to prevent the advancement of savanna vegetation into the forest zone, and also to protect certain hilly areas from erosion these reserved forest now stand at a crossroads.

As the mining firms froth over the riches awaiting them in the forest reserves, the question on the lips of observers is "Will the Government give in to the demands of the miners?

Public anxiety over the possibility of government acceding to the request of the miners however seems to be on the rise. In the current context of plant closures, downsizing and persistent fear of job losses and threats to seek justice in the International law courts, observers fear that the government will be blackmailed to override national laws protecting the environment and the forest reserves in particular and grant the miners their wish.

Others simply are of the view that "there is a huge incentive for the government not to give up this project because the country is broke and in their haste to replenish the national kitty the government will grant the miners their wish. Others however believe that President Kuffour will not succumb to the arm twisting despite the extreme pressure being exerted by the mining companies, the Chamber of Mines and their friends in government.

But whether the government will grant the mining companies the permit to tear down the forest reserves is still unclear. What is obvious is that, providing a de facto stamp of approval to the highly controversial demands of the mining industry will be a mockery of well intentioned forestry reforms and a betrayal of the government's own forest management plan and regulations.

Many believe that what is needed is the urgent need to maintain compliance with laws on forest reserves and investigate violations and punish perpetrators and our Government has a special duty to persuade the miners to respect local and international laws governing the forest reserves".

Several Ghanaians interviewed believe that government should keep mines out of protected areas and other fragile ecosystems particularly forest reserves. For them ecotourism seems a logical way to preserve the forest reserves while at the same time feeding the country's coffers.

According to the Ghana Tourist Board, the tourism sector constitutes 3.7 per cent of Ghana's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and provides over 360,000 jobs. Tourism yielded $400 million for Ghana in 1999. It is also estimated that the industry will generate $1,562 million as gross foreign exchange earnings in 2010, the realisation of this economic gain, however, depends on the development and marketing of the various portfolios such as high forests, wetlands and savanna's with their component wildlife resources.

For many the battle royal that is shaping up will be a pivotal test of the environmental mettle of the present administration and if the government takes the country down the miners path, they would have failed a key conservation litmus test. It remains to be seen whether the country is ready to give up short- term thinking and embark on the road to a genuinely sustainable future.

For now the battle lines are drawn and a broad spectrum of Civil Society including activists representing environment, Labour, Human rights, religious and women's groups as well as the communities in the proposed mining areas, are awaiting for Ghana governments answer to the request of the multinational mining firms.

Meanwhile the mining companies have secured the services of private security companies to guard the gold laden forest reserves as they await the final decision from government.

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