Mining communities demand information from stool lands

Tarkwa, Dec. 16, GNA - Communities living along the catchment communities of mining companies have appealed to the administrator of stool lands, to publish funds released to the district assemblies from the Mineral Development Fund (MDF). The said the lack of information about such releases makes it difficult to demand accountability from the district and municipal assemblies. The communities made the request at a public forum organised by the Ghana Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (GHEITI), at Tarkwa, on Wednesday.

The over 22 communities, who were represented, said the lack of information about such releases to the assemblies gave the assemblies the upper hand to use the funds for other projects outside the catchment communities, leaving their communities to continue lacking infrastructural projects that could transform their lives. Mr Franlin Ashiadey, GHEITI Coordinator said his outfit was planning to establish a secretariat at Tarkwa, Obuasi and Sunyani, to assist in ensuring transparency, accountability and promotion of rural development. Mr Ashaidey said GHIETI would extend its monitoring to the Oil and Gas sectors and would continue to organise workshops to explain the findings and publication of GHIETI reports. 16 Dec. 10