Ghana government sued over bauxite mining at Atewa

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

The Government of Ghana has been dragged to court over plans to mine bauxite in the Atewa Range Forest, Dailymailgh.com can reveal.

A Rocha Ghana, together with other NGOs and individuals, filed the notice on January 13, 2020 against the Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Gloria A. Akuffo, over government’s plans to exploit the Atewa Range Forest for bauxite.

The intended Reliefs of the notice include: 1. Declaration that the right to life and dignity as enshrined in the Constitution of Ghana, 1992 which includes (a) the right to a clean and healthy environment and (b) the right to have the environment protected for the benefit of present and future generations.

2. A declaration that mining bauxite in the Atewa Forest violates the right to life and dignity enshrined under articles 13 and 15 of the Constitution.

3. An order, compelling the Government of Ghana and its agents to take the necessary steps to protect Atewa Forest Range in accordance with constitutional obligations as contained under article 36(9) of the constitution.

4. An order, restraining the Government of Ghana, its assigns and agents, servants, workmen, allottees and guarantees whatsoever and howsoever described from undertaking mining and its related activities in the Atewa Forest Range.

It will be recalled that last year Oscar award-winning actor, Leonardo DiCaprio, added his voice to calls for the protection of the Atewa Forest as Ghana prepares to commence the first phase of the Sinohydro deal.

The deal will see Ghana’s bauxite reserves in the Atewa Forest mined and traded in a ‘barter’ deal for $2 billion from China, meant to be invested in various developmental projects across the country, particularly roads.

DiCaprio, who is a staunch environmentalist, believes that mining in the Forest would put the millions of people and hundreds of “wildlife species” who depend on it “at risk of extinction.”

“Ghana’s #Atewa Forest Reserve provides drinking water to 5 million+ people & harbors 100+ wildlife species at risk of extinction. We must prioritize the protection of these irreplaceable places for a healthy planet,” he said in a tweet on Tuesday.

Ghana’s #Atewa Forest Reserve provides drinking water to 5 million+ people & harbors 100+ wildlife species at risk of extinction. We must prioritize the protection of these irreplaceable places for a healthy planet. https://t.co/59fFVgJ0JZ @arochaghana #SaveAtewaForestNow

— Leonardo DiCaprio (@LeoDiCaprio) November 12, 2019

Below is the full release from A Rocha Ghana

A Rocha Ghana, together with other NGOs and individuals, wish to inform the general public that a notice of civil action against the Government of Ghana has been filed with the Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Honourable Gloria A. Akuffo, over its plans to exploit the Atewa Range Forest for bauxite.

The notice which was filed on Monday, January 13, 2020 is in pursuant to Section 10 of the State Proceeding Act 1998, Act 555. The action intends to protect and safeguard the environment pursuant to the constitutional duty imposed on us under article 41(k) of the Constitution of Ghana, 1992.

EcoCare Ghana, Ghana Youth Environment Movement, Save the Frogs Ghana, and several other institutions have affirmed their support to ensure that governments both now and in the future respect the right of Ghanaians to a safe and healthy environment.

We being good citizens, support government’s quest to develop Ghana and, as part of such efforts, to raise funds through various endeavours including exploiting the country’s resources. However, it is the case that Ghana does not need to exploit the Atewa Forest bauxite reserves since there are far richer bauxite reserves according to information available to government and to the entire Ghanaian populace.

Also, considering the critical importance of the Atewa Forest Range to Ghana’s water supply system, biodiversity and natural climate change adaptation, it would be best not to exploit the Atewa Range Forest. The notice has been served bearing in mind several constitutional actions to draw government’s attention to the fact that mining in the Atewa Forest would be very detrimental.

We, together with over 20 Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) both local and international, have embarked on a series of campaigns to steer government away from its decision. In the same spirit of environmental protection, we have sent a petition to both the Presidency and Parliament but the Government of Ghana consistently demonstrates no interest at all in these actions. It is against this background that we serve the notice to bring a legal suit against the Government of Ghana should they fail to exclude Atewa Range Forest from the bauxite mining project. It is unfortunate that we have to fight our own government to protect the environment.

The intended Reliefs of the notice include: 1. Declaration that the right to life and dignity as enshrined in the Constitution of Ghana, 1992 which includes (a) the right to a clean and healthy environment and (b) the right to have the environment protected for the benefit of present and future generations.

2. A declaration that mining bauxite in the Atewa Forest violates the right to life and dignity enshrined under articles 13 and 15 of the Constitution.

3. An order, compelling the Government of Ghana and its agents to take the necessary steps to protect Atewa Forest Range in accordance with constitutional obligations as contained under article 36(9) of the constitution.

4. An order, restraining the Government of Ghana, its assigns and agents, servants, workmen, allottees and guarantees whatsoever and howsoever described from undertaking mining and its related activities in the Atewa Forest Range.

Source: Daily Mail GH