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Why don't they start their own mining company to properly mine and
maintain the natural resources they were blessed with? Why entrust it
to someone else? There's enough education and ability among the
Ghanaians there and here to do that.
----- Original Message -----
From: f ossia <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2006 8:12 pm
Subject: 'The days of taking our ore are gone'
To: [log in to unmask]
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AAM - AWA Family Picnic: Saturday, July 15 @ Elver Park
<p>
AFRICA FEST 2006: Saturday, August 26 @ Warner Park
<p>
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<p>
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<span><p><div style='background-color:'><P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">I
hope African leaders will consult with this Chief. He has a workable
idea for African countries to benefit from their mineral wealth. Please
read on. You might also want to read, "Is mining destroying your life?"
<A href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/5181242.stm"
target="1">http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/5181242.stm</A></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> </P></FONT></FONT>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman">'The days of taking our ore are gone'<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><?xml:namespace prefix = o ns =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"></FONT></FONT> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman">The Ghanaian government wants the Okyenhene
(tribal king) of eastern <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"
/><st1:country-region><st1:place>Ghana</st1:place></st1:country-region>'s
Akyem Abuakwa region to grant land access to mining companies interested
in exploiting huge deposits of bauxite - the raw material used to
produce aluminium. <o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman">The Okyenhene told the BBC's Claire Gilderson why
he's in no hurry to sacrifice the Atiwa rain forest and will wait for
the highest bidder who can prove that profit is not their only concern.
<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><SPAN style="mso-spacerun:
yes"> </SPAN>Formerly known as the Gold Coast, you'd be forgiven
for thinking that
<st1:country-region><st1:place>Ghana</st1:place></st1:country-region> is
a prosperous country with a strong economy. <o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times
New Roman" size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman">Exploitation from mining multinationals has
attributed to our lack of development. Obuasi and Tarkwa in the
south-west are rich in gold yet poor infrastructure, bad roads, lack of
sanitation and poverty are prevalent in these areas.
<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times
New Roman" size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman">These multinationals promise opportunity for
development, but where is the evidence? <o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times
New Roman" size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman">Mining companies have also damaged our
environment and neglected our communities. Water bodies have been
polluted and forests have been destroyed. <o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times
New Roman" size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman">Livelihood <o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times
New Roman" size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman">The Atiwa rain forest in my kingdom is
approximately 43km squared. It's a substantial part of our livelihood
and helps generate rainfall for the farmers. <o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times
New Roman" size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><SPAN style="mso-spacerun:
yes"> </SPAN></FONT></FONT><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New
Roman">The local community in Kyebi is clearly in need of development
<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times
New Roman" size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman">Cutting down these trees in exchange for surface
mining would be disastrous. <o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times
New Roman" size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman">We are not prepared to fell trees for economic
short term sustainability. There has to be long term sustainable
programmes in place. <o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times
New Roman" size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman">People have also been displaced and neglected.
Many communities end up more impoverished after the mining companies
leave, than before they arrived. <o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times
New Roman" size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman">The promise of jobs equates to unskilled labour
and the workers are left with no tools, no skills and no training.
<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times
New Roman" size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman">Ownership <o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times
New Roman" size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman">They are not able to apply for decent jobs and
have nothing to fall back on when the multinationals leave.
<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times
New Roman" size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman">I am not against mining if the ore and the
production process are owned by our people. <o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times
New Roman" size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman">Unfortunately in the past we have been quick to
sign inequitable contracts in the hope of eradicating poverty.
<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times
New Roman" size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman">Contracts must stipulate healthcare for the
workers, decent housing, better pay, more benefits, training, care for
the environment and social responsibility. <o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times
New Roman" size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman">Intolerance <o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times
New Roman" size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman">We have to make laws to protect our people and
our land. As traditional leaders we must negotiate hard and bargain from
a position of strength in future. <o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times
New Roman" size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><SPAN style="mso-spacerun:
yes"> </SPAN></FONT></FONT><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New
Roman">This is the 21st Century and we have a responsibility to future
generations to turn the minerals that God has blessed us with into
symbols of wealth and development such as schools, hospitals,
universities, decent roads, infrastructure and respectable jobs which
will transform lives and raise standards of living.
<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times
New Roman" size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New
Roman"><st1:country-region><st1:place>Ghana</st1:place></st1:country-region>
needs to take a cue from <st1:country-region><st1:place>South
Africa</st1:place></st1:country-region> - in
<st1:City><st1:place>Johannesburg</st1:place></st1:City> you can visibly
see what has been done with their gold. <o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times
New Roman" size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman">We need to hold onto our property and wait for
the highest bidder who is someone that not only cares about their profit
but also cares about our people. </FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><A
href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/5190584.stm"
target="1">http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/5190584.stm</A></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times
New Roman" size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times
New Roman" size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times
New Roman" size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
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