Newmont cannot distance itself from arrest of activists - WACAM

Accra, Dec. 20, GNA - The Wassa Association of Communities Affected by Mining (WACAM) says Newmont Ghana Gold Limited could not distance itself from the arrest of its activists by the Brong Ahafo Regional Police Command.

A statement Mr Daniel Owusu-Koranteng, Executive Director of WACAM, signed on Wednesday said: 93We can understand that once the arrest and detention of the activists had attracted nationwide and international condemnation, Newmont would try to cover up its role in what has become the most shameful act of our time.

The statement, which was in response to a letter from Newmont's Director of Corporate and External Relations, Africa, Dr Chris Anderson to Mr Owusu-Koranteng , said: 93The events leading to the arrest of the activists and the public statement by the Brong Ahafo Regional Police Commander, A.C.P. Opare Addo on the arrest confirms Newmont's role in the arrest and detention of the activists.

WACAM reminded Newmont that: 93Ghanaian value system abhors intimidation and harassment of innocent people, whose only crime is to protect community interest. The media report of the rousing welcome for the activists by the people of Yamfo, when they were granted bail after being in prison for two weeks, debunks all attempts to create the erroneous impression that the people of Yamfo were against their own kinsmen.

The Brong Ahafo Regional Police Command on Monday 27 November 2006 arrested Abdullah Salifu; Ali Baba; Alhassan Adams; Mohammed Tininye and Jacob Amenofe, all activists of WACAM and Mr Ibrahima Aidiara, the Programme Officer of the West Africa Regional Office of Oxfam America, at Yamfo in Tano North District of Brong Ahafo Region alleging that they planned to incite the people in the town to revolt against Newmont gold mining operation there.

Assistant Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Adams, Deputy Regional Commander, told the Ghana News Agency in an interview that the six were initially granted Police bail for initial investigations but were arraigned on Thursday and were remanded in custody till December 11 2006.

He said the manner in which the six came from Kenyase in Asutifi District in the Region to organise the meeting at the Community Centre smacked of a conspiracy to disturb the peace since they had not notified the Police.

The Deputy Regional Commander stressed that the Police had in view of the volatile situation in the area, been monitoring events in the area effectively to offset any act that could disturb the peace of the people.

ACP Adams said on Tuesday November 28 the Police received information that a meeting was taking place at the Community Centre at Yamfo, a meeting that neither the chief and his elders nor the Police had been informed about.

"The Police were informed that some people from Kenyase were holding an unauthorised event at Yamfo so the Police moved in and arrested the organizers to question them", he said.

The Deputy Regional Commander stressed that the organizers were inciting the people against the chief and elders of the town over Newmont's gold mining activities there.

He said the chief and elders had not agreed for the meeting to take place but the organizers rebuffed them.

This act of the Police was interpreted in international circles as a repression of the people, whose lands have been confiscated to enable Newmont to operate, in view of the paltry sums paid as compensation. A release from Oxfam America sent to GNA said: 93On November 27 an Oxfam America staff member and representatives of Wassa Association of Communities Affected by Mining (WACAM), a Ghanaian nongovernmental organisation (NGO), were arrested by local Police in of Yamfo, Ghana and detained briefly. They were in Yamfo to discuss community members concerns regarding the Ahafo gold-mining project, operated by US-based Newmont Mining Corporation.

=93After the arrival of these individuals in Yamfo, local Newmont employees had a role in contacting local Police alleging that the Oxfam staff member, a Senegalese national, and WACAM representatives were falsely claiming to represent Newmont. At no time did these persons claim to represent the Corporation.

The release said: 93Oxfam America is deeply concerned by this regrettable incident and calls on Newmont and the Ghanaian Authorities to support an independent investigation to clarify the events surrounding it and the actions of the Police and company officials involved.

=93Oxfam believes this incident further highlights the need for credible and legitimately independent monitoring of the human rights and environmental aspects of the Newmont Ahafo operations, including the Mine's arrangement with local security forces.

=93Oxfam calls on the Corporation to work with local community members, independent international and national technical experts and NGOs to design and implement a credible monitoring system that will provide comprehensive and reliable information on the broad range of human rights and environmental issues at stake at Ahafo.=94

Youth for Action Ghana (YAG), a Ghanaian NGO, also condemned in no uncertain terms the arrest and detention of the activists. A statement James Kwabena Bomfeh Jnr.; Executive Secretary of YAG signed said: 93It is amazing that in the present civil atmosphere in Ghana's political history, some individuals and corporate institutions still disregard the fundamental rights of people, especially those living in mining areas and treat them with contempt and disrespect as if they are lesser human beings.=94

It said: 93This is the land of our birth, if it will not be of benefit to us, it must not be used to destroy us. Isn't it intriguing how our resources are being exploited to under develop us?=94 Youth for Action Ghana called on all youth groups, student organisations, civil society, religious bodies and all progressive organisations to condemn this flagrant abuse of human rights, saying: =93Yen ara yen asaase ni! Our forbears secured this land with their sweat and blood. We shall and we must defend it at all times. We must resist the oppressors' rule both from within and without.=94 The Activists received tumultuous welcome when they returned home to Yamfo after they had been granted bail.

People, who had heard about the case and had thronged the Court premises broke into wild jubilation when the Suyani Circuit Court 'A' presided over by Mr G.H.K. Debrah, eventually decided to grant them bail.