AIMES calls for end to stability agreements in extractive industry

Accra, July 16, GNA - The African Initiative on Mining, Environment and Society (AIMES), has called for the curtailment of clauses on stability and development agreements in the extractive industry and confidentiality of environmental audit reports from national codes.

AIMES a network of African civil society organisation groups in the extractive sector said the existence of these clauses constitutes major barriers to state autonomy and public access to information.

Mr Abdulai Daramani, Environment Programme Officer, Third World Network Africa, said members of the network made the demands at the end of its 12th annual strategy meeting in Bamako, Mali.

The meeting was co-hosted by Third World Network-Africa (the secretariat of AIMES) and the Institute for Research and Promotion of Alternatives in Africa.

Mr Daramani said the meeting also called for the introduction of specific taxes such as capital gain tax, windfall tax and supper tax with a specific percentage of the super tax devoted for the implementation of the continental reform agenda.

There is also the need for an upward review of royalty tax and state equity participation as well as review of mining contracts to make them fair, transparent and equitable to optimise their contribution to national development.

Mr Daramani said AIMES also pledged its support for the on-going continental policy initiatives to optimise the benefits of mining and called for an end to parallel processes that could endanger the reforms.

"We call for united action in opposition to any threat to the philosophical basis and overall success of the reform that offer frameworks, which protect community interest and the environment as well as promote economic development and citizenship culture in a determination of mining," he said.

The network also called for the protection of community rights, the environment and an end to impunity and violation of rights of community members.

He said the meeting did not only deepen the understanding and capacity of members on the financial crises and its impact on the mineral sector of Africa but also the continental policy reform agenda.

"It is especially expected to offer a platform for members to provide civil society input into the draft report focusing on community issues, small-scale artisanal mining, fiscal framework and linkages."

AIMES which has representation in more than 15 strategic mining countries across Africa was founded in 1999, as a Pan-African network of organisations, groups, communities, researchers and individuals engaged in the extractive sector and in particular; mining and advocacy.

It offers a framework for collaboration to strengthen collective actions that advance community interest, environmental sustainability and sustainable development in relation to the extractive sector.