More than 3,300 residents from 24 mining-affected communities across four regions in Ghana have received intensive training on the country’s mining laws and natural resource governance.
The outreach which covered communities in Ashanti, Ahafo, Eastern, and Western North Regions was conducted by Livelihood and Environment Ghana (LEG), with support from the STAR Ghana Foundation under the AVID 2 project.
The capacity-building and community forums were designed to help residents understand the key provisions of the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703) and its accompanying Legislative Instruments, including (L.I. 2175).
The initiative targeted individuals often overlooked in legal and policy discussions, including women, youth, farmers, traditional leaders, and persons with disabilities.
They were equipped with knowledge on how to protect their rights when mining activities affect their land, homes, or livelihoods.
The training simplified legal content through the use of local languages, storytelling, and visual illustrations to break down complex provisions of the law, particularly on land acquisition, compensation, environmental protection, and community participation in decision-making.
“Many participants had never heard of Act 703 or knew how mineral revenues are supposed to be managed,” said Mr. Richard Adjei Poku, Executive Director of LEG.
He said the intervention was to fill that gap and empower community members to ask the right questions and hold duty bearers accountable.
A key feature of the training was the selection of 220 “Change Champions” – 10 from each community, with equal representation of men and women who demonstrated boldness, leadership, and a commitment to grassroots advocacy.
These champions will continue to serve as resource persons and voices for their communities, leading local efforts to demand fairness and transparency in mineral governance.
Copies of the Mining Laws were distributed to all the 220 Change Champions as reference and tools for engaging the local duty-bearers, including the mining companies.
The fora also clarified the roles of mining companies, government institutions, and community leaders in resource governance, and emphasised the importance of inclusive and transparent leadership in ensuring equitable development.
Participants were particularly engaged during sessions on how mineral royalties are shared and how local assemblies can be held accountable for the use of mining-related revenues.
Many of them expressed concern about poor infrastructure and services in their communities despite decades of mineral extraction.
Chiefs, queen mothers, youth leaders, women’s groups, and landowners actively took part in the discussions.
Mr. Poku said LEG would continue to support the communities and their newly trained local champions as part of an agenda to strengthen community voices and participation in Ghana’s extractive sector governance.