DISEC SELECT COMMITTEE ON DORMAA KANTINKA/YAROGURUMA ISSUES (2013) REPORT ON THE INVESTIGATION CONDUCTED AT YAROGURUMA AND DORMAA KANTINKA COMMUNITIES INCLUDING OTHER RELEVANT CONCERNS, RAISED IN THE OMANBOTANTIM PETITION TO THE REGIONAL MINISTER.

DISTRICT SECURITY COUNCIL(DISEC) SELECT COMMITTEE ON DORMAA KANTINKA/YAROGURUMA ISSUES (2013)

REPORT ON THE INVESTIGATION CONDUCTED AT YAROGURUMA AND DORMAA KANTINKA COMMUNITIES INCLUDING OTHER RELEVANT CONCERNS, RAISED IN THE OMANBOTANTIM PETITION TO THE REGIONAL MINISTER.

INTRODUCTION

The District Security Committee (DISEC) after its sitting on Wednesday 9^th October, 2013, came to a conclusion that a committee be set to re-investigate the claims in the petition of Omanbotantim Association (an advocacy group in Kenyasi) to the Brong Ahafo Regional Minister.  This is because a number of Key Stakeholders who matter in the issue were inadvertently excluded from an earlier committee set to probe the same issue.

On the 25^th Day of October, 2013, a fifteen member committee was formally inaugurated to reinvestigate the claims of the above group. The terms of reference for the investigation were:

a.       Verify households in Dormaa Kantinka and Yarogurma communities 

b.      Determine the impact of Newmont Ghana Gold Limited’s operations on the inhabitants of the Dormaa Kantinka and Yarogurma communities.

c.       Ascertain the confines/demarcation of the operational areas of Newmont Ghana Gold Limited in relation to Dormaa Kantinka and Yaroguruma Communities.

d.      Any other relevant issues relating to the concerns raised in the petition of Omanbotantim to the Regional Minister.

The committee comprises the following:

o   Resettlement Negotiation Committee                          - two (2) representatives

o   Dormaa Kantinka Community                                      - three (3) representatives

o   Omanbotantim Association                                        -           two (2) representatives

o   Kenyasi Graduates and Students’ Union                   -           two (2) representatives

o   Newmount Ghana Gold Limited                                -           two (2) representatives

o   Traditional Council                                                     -           two (2) representatives

o   Environmental Protection Agency –Sunyani  -           one (1) representative

o   Minerals Commission                                                  -           one (1) representative

The committee conducted its investigation on the following terms of reference:

·         Verification of households in Dormaa Kantinka and Yaroguruma Communities

·         Determination of the impact of Newmont Ghana Gold Limited’s operations on the inhabitants of the said communities.

·         Ascertaining the confines/demarcation of the operational areas of Newmont Ghana Gold Limited (hitherto referred to as NGGL) in relation to Dormaa Kantinka and Yarogurma Communities.

·         Employment, National Service and Attachment of Local communities, contractors activities

MODE OF THE INVESTIGATION

·         Field visit

·         Interviews

·         Presentation by officials from Newmont Ghana Gold Limited.

·         Analysis/Discussions of team members. 

The committee worked as a team in all the categories. We sat down as a team to write this report.  The members gave individual recommendations and later arrived at a general conclusion which was unanimously consented to.

THE DEFINITION OF SOME KEY EXPRESSIONS

Dormaa Kantinka: The landscape at Dormaa Kantinka, Eastern part of the subika waste rock dump site, where the inhabitants claim that the impact of NGGL operations have negative consequences on their livelihood.

The confines of NGGL Operations: These are the areas of operations of NGGL to its boundary lines.

Impact of Newmont Ghana Gold Limited operations on the inhabitants: The effect of NGGL’s operations in relation to the inhabitants of Dormaa Kantinka and Yaroguruma communities.

Verification of households in Dormaa Kantinka and Yaroguruma communities: It is the Households located at Dormaa Kantinka and Yaroguruma communities.

Any other relevant issues relating to the concerns of Omanbotantim:  The committee defines this to mean employment National Service, Attachments and contractors activities.

FIELD VISIT AND INTERVIEWS

After the field visit and interviews, these were the findings/observations:

YAROGURUMA COMMUNITY

The team interacted with a cross section of the Yaroguruma community and some residents from Ananekrom, most of whom were the immediate family of the Opanin Yaroguruma,whose name is given to the community. He also served as the first spokesperson for the group who claimed as follows:

·         That the Yaroguruma community existed since 1973 (40 years) ago.  The Opanin Yaroguruma lived with his wives and children there.

They lived comfortably until four years ago.

·         Their farm lands which were fallow were usurped from them by NGGL without compensation and those which had crops were compensated for and were taken from them as well.

Now they have to walk a long distance before they can reach a farm land. They farmed at subiriagya which they cannot do any longer.

·         The children in Yaroguruma attended school at Kodiwohia until the whole Kodiwohia community was resettled at Kenyasi, about seven kilometers distance. Since the Yaroguruma community who schooled at Kodiwohia L/A school, were not resettled, NGGL made an agreement with them to convey the pupils to and from school every school day.

However, a week after school reopens and when it rains, the bus ceases to convey the pupils to school. This behavior affects the pupils academically as they are always lacking behind their peers. Those who are in JHS are left stranded since by the time they finished the compulsory extra classes, the bus would have left. These pupils sometimes have to walk on foot back home.

·         On health and first aid, the spokesperson complained that there were some people who lived at Kodiwohia before the resettlement and provided health assistance to the community.

There was traditional midwife/birth attendant who helped the women in labour but she is no more there for them to benefit from her since she has been resettled. Furthermore, there was one Mr. Agyare who would always go to Kenyasi to bring vaccines for immunizations which saved both children and women from travelling a long distance to Kenyasi to get these health needs.

·         Yaroguruma further lamented that, when Kodiwohia was not moved away, he could weigh his cocoa beans which aside giving him comfort also fetched him some awards. But now, he has to   pay extra cost to send his cocoa beans to kenyasi. He recollected a bitter incidence where  his cocoa spoilt as  a result of heavy down pour at the time his cocoa bags were at the roadside waiting for means to carry them to Kenyasi.

·         They continued narrating their plight on access to potable water. The team was informed of Apensu River which served as their primary drinking source of water till NGGL came to pollute this and any other source. NGGL however, created a borehole to serve this community but of a distance of over 760m. This state of affair makes it difficult for the old whose children have moved to settle in Kenyasi to get water for domestic use.

·         In addition, the inhabitants complained of how NGGL, though has no power over them, gives them instructions to follow, to the extent that even  when they want to farm on their own lands or  erect a structure, NGGL has to approve of it. Yaroguruma also added that his children have left him and his old wives alone in the village and they have moved to Kenyasi due to the deplorable condition at the village. They came there once a while but they did not stay for long as there is no more comfort living in the community

·         Kwaku Sarfo and kofi Mahama who stayed at Ananekrom and Yaroguruma respectively complained of excessive noise, mosquito and other insects bites. They further added that NGGL had blocked the road which links Ananekrom to the Kenyasi- Ntotroso road. NGGL has also blocked the Subiri water way. This blockade directs the rainy water to the homes of Ananekrom residents.

Kwaku Sarfo further added that NGGL had called him to come for his compensation chit but had been denied on many occasions.

·         They unanimously concluded that they would be comfortable if NGGL resettled them to joint their people they were living with, at the old Kodiwohia.

OBSERVATIONS OF THE COMMITTEE IN RELATION TO THE CLAIMS OF YAROGURUMA

Farm Land: The Committee confirmed that Newmont Ghana Gold Limited has compensated for some farm lands and even one of his cocoa farms that Opanin Yaroguruma harvested from. 

Health assistants:  The Community viewed good health as a basic need it was confirm from some people who know Kodiwohia that the Community benefited from such people.

School Bus: The committee also confirmed after consulting Newmont Ghana Gold Limited that the bus sometimes failed to ply the road when it rains and always a week after school reopens.

Water: The team confirmed that the distance from the Yaroguruma community to the boreholes is so long.  Various measurements were taken from the borehole to the community as follows;

Distance from the borehole to the 1^st house in the community: 513 meters

Distance from the borehole to the center of the community: 763 meters

Distance from the borehole to the last house: 1050 meters (1.05 kilometers)

(NB: The villages are split individual buildings.)

We could not confirm whether their Primary source of water, the Apensu River which is 180 meters distance to the community was really polluted with chemical or contaminated with silt.  Newmont Ghana Gold Limited confirmed that the river was contaminated with silt but it was during the time of construction, hence the construction of the borehole.

DORMAA KANTINKA CLAIMS AND OBSERVATIONS

Dust: The inhabitants complained of dust to the committee.  When the committee arrived, on the second day of field visit there was a dump truck dumping rocks at some distance.  As we were not close to the dump site we could not see dust.  The committee measured the distance between the closest waste rocks to the boundary line and the buildings to the boundary line respectively as follows:

1^st measurement (from boundary line to rocks): 99metres

2^nd measurement (from building to boundary line): 12metres

3^rd measurement (from boundary line to rocks): 57metres

4^th measurement (boundary line to building): 3.6metres

·         5^th measurement (Boundary line to rock berm): 10metres

We think from the readings recorded from the distance of the rocks to the inhabitants that there is possibility of dust when rocks are being dumped and this could be verified.

·         Water pollution:

The inhabitants confirmed that the borehole was pure as of the time the committee interviewed them (31/10/13, @ 11:40a.m) but they said it was polluted about four (4) months ago.  The team accepted their view and considered their reaction to mean that the problem was solved.  They however complained of occasional malfunction of the single borehole they had for some numbers of days before repair works were done. (Some committee members took turns to sip the water from the borehole).

·         Unannounced blasting:

The inhabitants blamed Newmont Ghana Gold for their changing of time for blasting yet they do not communicate back to them.  The committee confirmed such incidents (change of blast times) do happen from time to time.

·         Mosquitoes breeding:

 It was observed that there was some amount of stagnant waters that could serve as source of breeding grounds for mosquitoes. .

Farm lands and houses get flooded with rain water draining from rocks:

The committee did not see the exact picture of this complaint as it was not raining at the time of our visit. However, we confirm that we saw an amount of silt packed about 15m from the residence and had deep foot prints of livestock and human being.  Some of the buildings were erected in low-lying areas thereby making it possible for running water to invade the homes during rain.  We saw traces of erosion directly sloping towards the inhabitants.

It is possible that their homes could be flooded during rain as there was no mechanism put in place by NGGL to check the running water flowing from the rocks.

Students are unable to go to school due to unavailability of bus

The inhabitants complained that sometimes the bus failed to convey them to school which affect them academically.

The team confirmed this as true since Newmont Ghana Gold Limited confirmed that sometimes, the bus might fail to come due to muddy roads.

Noise pollution

The inhabitants complained of a very high level of noise from machines, and dumping rocks, which sometimes give them sleepless nights.  The team confirmed having heard some noise from the machine but could not ascertain the level since there was no apparatus to do that.

Inhabitants who lived behind Subiri complained that they, especially the pupils cannot cross the river when the ECD4 over flows it bank and they are forced to drink from it. The team visited the Subiri River.  At that time the water level was low.  There was no bridge provided on the river.   Newmont Ghana Gold Limited also confirmed that sometimes the ECD4 overflowed naturally whenever it rained, if not NGGL opened it sometimes once a year or two.

Pythons from the dam attack livestock

The inhabitants complained that sometimes some of their livestock disappear and they know that it is the pythons emanating from the dam that come to hide in the rocks and gradually eat them up.  The team could not confirm this as there was no tangible evidence to substantiate the claim.

The team saw a goat on top the rock which presupposes that if there were pythons hiding in the rocks, they could possibly eat up the livestock.

NEWMONT GHANA GOLD LIMITED’S BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON DORMAA KANTINKA

Newmont Ghana Gold Limited made a presentation highlighting their plans to curb some of the complaints raised in the petition.  They however said the number of buildings at Dormaa Kantinka had blotted as compared to their satellite photage in 2009.  Newmont Ghana Gold Limited presented their plan which was designed in March 2013 as follows:

PLANNED ACTIVITIES AS AT MARCH, 2013

•      Construction of a rock berm that will act as a sediment control structure for water that exits the mine property near the Subika East Dump

•      Construction of a fence that will deter access to mine property by local community members and stray animals (safety)

•      Construction of a v-ditch along the public road to channel any water that seeps through the rock berm and keep it from running over the road

•      Establishment of a community local team to educate community members to stay outside the mine property (for safety)

NEWMONT GHANA GOLD LIMITED PRESENTATION ON EMPLOYMENT, NATIONAL SERVICE AND ATTACHMENT

As part of the issues the team found relevant to probe into, were employment, National Service, Attachment of Local-Local, and contractors’ activities.  Newmont Ghana Gold Limited was invited to present its take on these issues and one Mr. Agyekum, Human Recourse Superintendent of NGGL presented as follows:

·         Newmont Ghana Gold Limited has no quota on National Service and attachment for locals communities

·         There is 35% of local for employment of National work force which is yet to be reduced since the company cannot meet that target.  But he was quick to add that it was still under review.

·         That National Service, Attachment, and contractors are part of the 35% quota.

·         It is not the right of Newmont Ghana Gold Limited to present shortlisted applicants to the National Service Secretariat for posting.  It is only a favour from the National Service Secretariat.

·         Newmont Ghana Gold Limited selects National Service personnel based on competence (qualification).

·         The number of persons to be taken in a service year is determined by site management.

RECOMMENDATIONS

YAROGURUMA COMMUNITY

The Yaroguruma community has challenges on accessibility of water since the distance from their homes to the borehole is hilly and too long.

They have bussing problem for the pupils at every beginning of term and rainy days. It was confirmed that NGGL bus failed to convey the pupils to school at these occasions.

NGGL is aware of this problem since 2008 but has not found any lasting solution to it since the problem still persists.

Some of the residents have no fallow lands to farm on since NGGL has compensated for all their farm lands and the fallow ones for free.

Based on the issues, interviews, research and findings above, the eleven members present at meeting on 8/12/2013 and the EPA representative (who was on sick leave), gave their opinions as follows after two hours discussion:

Water problem at Yaroguruma

Mensah: As the distance from the borehole to the community is more than 700m, the old and the vulnerable cannot go to the fetch water. They should be resettled.

Fenuku: Since there are old people who go to fetch water from a long distance there should be a borehole in the village itself to cut the distance short.

Yaa Konadu: Even if the water issue is solved by bringing it to the village itself, there are still other problems that challenge them. Therefore they should be resettled.

Hon. Afia Sarpong: since they had their potable water and it is destroyed by NGGL, they should be resettled since the distance is too long.

A.    Hafiz:

The residents of Yaroguruma community complain of long distance before one could get access to water.  The group observed and subsequently took measurement which confirmed this.

From the pipe provided by NGGL  to the nearest house measured 513 meters, to the middle house measured 763meters and the farthest house measured 1 kilometers and 50 meters as against their previous streams they use to fetch their water before NGGL activities contaminated it are 180m, 270m and 155m respectively.

Contrary to Urban Water and Sanitation guidelines which states that the maximum distance for household to water should be 500 meters. Even from the measurement recorded, the nearest house recorded 513 meters which is highly and logically unacceptable.  The communityhave been enduring this for the past 8years and absolutely no mitigation measures have been instituted and even when the pipe was to be constructed, the community even pleaded with the company to construct it near to them. However, NGGL never listened to them and the most painful aspect of it is that when the children and the old women are fed up with the distance, they are sometimes compelled to fetch the contaminated stream water for drinking and other domestic use which NGGL vehemently warned them never to even allow their animals to drink from. I suggest resettlement for them. 

Agyenim: Water is life therefore if the NGGL activities have impacted negatively on the people and they have to go a kilometer or more to get water, I suggest they should be resettled.

James: Water issues on Ghana, there is a body that regulates water (community water and sanitation). There should be a minimum of 300 people to fetch. We should know how many people lived there. According to the standard, the distance should not be more than 500 metres per the standards of Community water and sanitation. Yaroguruma, Ananekrom and Osei Wusukrom have boreholes and could be assessed from these points and the distant is not more than 300m.  Based on these the impact do not warrant resettlement. The borehole is not for the Yaroguruma community alone.  

Kofi Antwi: Ghana Water Company (GWC) borehole regulation states that a borehole should serve 300 people and should be sited at a distance of maximum 500m from the various households.
All the boreholes for the two communities comply with this directive.  Ananekrom borehole is situated right within the community and within range.

Yaw Frimpong: water is important. In the olden days, water issue was a problem but it is not like that now. Most of the community members are old and therefore I recommend that NGGL should construct a new borehole closer than that, possibly at Yaroguruma community.

Nana Anin stood neutral as a chairman.

Abdul-karim Yeboah: I suggest that the distance should be look at since it is confirmed that it is a burden to the vulnerable and the old. I suggest there should be another one at Yaroguruma but if NGGL thinks it is impossible, then, they should resettle them, since they had rivers until NGGL came to the picture.

School bus

Fenuku: I suggest that, this issue started ever since NGGL came into existence, this has caused a great havoc to the school children therefore I suggest that they should be resettled.

Mensah: NGGL accepts the fact that, whenever it rains school children cannot go to school, therefore they should be resettled.

Yaa Konadu: School children cannot attend school due to muddy roads yet NGGL workers do go to work.  Therefore, I suggest resettlement for them.

Hon. Afia Sarpong: Our future depends on the school children so therefore their future should not be played with, they should be resettled

Hafiz:  I suggest, there will be no mitigation that can be put in place because the company is aware since 2008. Every first week schools re-open and every next day it rains, NGGL bus fails to convey the pupils to and from school though it is mandatory.  The pupils in their final year could not participate in the compulsory extra classes because they would not be able to fare themselves neither could they foot a road of an average distance of 7 kilometers.  This has led to the low performance of the students.  Series of meetings and petitions with and to NGGL and other appropriate and concerned bodies’ never yielded fruit as stated by the residents and evidenced by minutes and copies of petitions.  In a nutshell some could not attend Senior High School and others are threatening to drop out if their condition remains the same. This particular problem is like a stab at back which is much known to NGGL, Ghana Education Service and whosoever that matters for the past years without single intervention or mitigation measures.

At this 21 century, education and for that matter, the future of the wards, the community and the world at large cannot be jeopardized in the hands of Business Corporation.  The FREE, COMPULSORY BASIC EDUCATION is a constitutional right for the wards of this community. There is no mitigation measures that would be solved this paramount concern of the community rather than recommending resettlement.  

I therefore suggest that they should be resettled.

James Oduro: Earlier there was no school at Dokyikrom but now NGGL has JHS for them. They should attend school there instead, to bring the pupils a little closer. They may walk back home after school if the bus leaves earlier before they finish extra classes. There should be contact people from the community and the company.

Yaw Frimpong: The bus takes people from different areas so if Yaroguruma should be resettled, based on that argument alone, then what happens to the others? Therefore NGGL should go under strict compliance to convey the pupils everyday whether sunny or rainy. The pupils cannot walk even from Tutuka to Yaroguruma. The journey is too long, so going to school at Dokyikrom (Tutuka) is not an option at all.

            Kofi Antwi: Dokyikrom School was built to take care of the pupils in the area. If they miss the school bus they can take the community bus. The JHS pupils can go to Dokyikrom and the primary may continue at Kenyasi. 

On absence of traditional birth attendant and immediate access to health care, there is an opportunity to provide support through the Health directorate to train some local health attendants.

Agyenim Boateng: The welfare of the pupils is not important to the company (NGGL). Since 2008 there has been such a problem till now. The company has overlooked this.  I therefore suggest that no mitigation measures could help other than resettlement.

10. Abdul-Karim Yeboah: There have not been any mitigation measures to curb the issues of bussing especially the JHS students. Since the problem has been in existence since 2008.

N G G L should be firm and regular on the bussing issue.  There should be a bus for JHS pupils due to the extra classes time, or their families should be resettled at Kenyasi since going to Tutuka is not the best option to solve this issue.

11.  Nana Anin:  The pupils that the bus conveys are not only Yaroguruma Community members.  They are many from different villages and therefore NGGL should be talked to, to make sure the bus is always available.  There should be a community liaison officer to communicate on the bus issue to the company (NGGL), if not they should be resettled.

FARM LANDS

Yaw Frimpong:  There are no more farm lands at Yaroguruma community so Yaroguruma and his family should be resettled.

Kofi Antwi:  NGGL acquired lands and paid adequate compensation to owners within the confines of the law and has additionally implemented mitigation programs such as Vulnerable People’s Programme (VPP), Agriculture Improvement and Land Access Programme (AILAP), and Skill Development for Income Improvement Programme (SDIIP) to support the affected People.    

James: I share the same view.  In law NGGL paid for all lands they took.  As of that time fallow lands were not compensated for. NGGL worked according to the Mineral and Mining Act.

On the absence of cocoa shed and buyers from their closest community and the attendant economic effect, NGGL says that location of Cocoa sheds is regulated by Cocoa Board. The Owners directed the company on where the structure should be sited since they will post people to work there.
During the resettlement process at Kodiwohia, the Cocoa Board directed NGGL to put up the cocoa shed which was in Kodiwohia at the Resettlement sites which was done. So this challenge was not created by NGGL

Agyeinim Boateng:  Based on what we saw and heard at Yaroguruma and as the law stipulates, the impacted persons should be compensated for, to have a better livelihood, yet all Yaroguruma lands were not compensated for.  They live in abject poverty.  I suggest they should be resettled for better life.

Hafiz:  Yaroguruma in person and some members of the community have not benefited from any AILAP Programme.  Apart from Yaroguruma’s cocoa farm, which was compensated for, all other lands were fallow and therefore were taken for free.  Most of the residents including Op. Yaroguruma now farm at a distance of 8km.  This existed since 2004, escalated in 2008 and now a neck breaking.  Now the lands which were closer are now used by their rightful owners to develop cocoa and teak farms.  Therefore there is no more farm lands to grow annual crops.  I suggest therefore that all the people who live there but have no farm lands to till should be resettled and their perennial crops should be compensated for. On health, we would have recommended that a community member be trained to take the position of Mr. Alex Agyare who would always go to bring vaccines anytime there is national immunization exercise from Kenyasi to the people of Kodiwohia community.

The community is cut-off from accessing this immunization exercise which is so critical to the health of the children of the community.

Generally,considering  mosquito breeding, excessive noise, more importantly, student not be able to go to school at every first week  school re-opens and every next  day  after rain though  it is mandatory for NGGL to convey the pupils  as  initially agreed between G.E S,NGGL and the Community, before Kodiwohia school was resettled. 

Based on the fact that NGGL  workers never get  stranded on the same road even at the peak of rainy seasons  and  also as basic education is  constitutionally mandatory for every Ghanaian citizens. Long distance,   accompanied by hilly nature of the road which is highly and absolutely above Urban Water and Sanitation  recommendation  of 500 meters;  health issues which prevent the community from national immunization exercise; the residents could only access farmlands  at a distance of an average of 8 kilometers since NGGL took their fallow lands for free without any compensation and all their remaining lands  were already used to farm cash  crop; I agree with the majority of the group who never took  side and worked objectively as a team, that resettlement is a prudent and safe mitigation  measure for the community.

Afia Sarpong: All our lands are family properties and one cannot go to others for one.  Any impacted person by law should be compensated for to have a better life but that is not the case at Yaroguruma. Therefore there should be resettlement and their farms should be compensated for.

Yaa Konadu:  All the people living there are the rightful owners of their lands, no matter how small.  Therefore due to their discomforts and hardships they go through, they should be resettled.

Fenuku:  I am aware of the situation there.  It is possible that not all those living there have land problem but there are others who might have other challenges other than land.  Therefore I suggest they should all be resettled to bring peace.

Mensah:  Food is “human petrol” and water is life, so if they have challenges on both vital life demanding items, I suggest they should be resettled.

Abdul-Karim:  All those whose land were impacted on and have no farm lands should be resettled in order for them to get some elsewhere for life continuity.  The blame by NGGL on Cocoa Board does not solve the problem. NGGL gave information that are not factual as though they are, especially on the distance of the borehole at Yaroguruma.

Nana Anin:  Yaroguruma and his family have suffered a lot and deserve resettlement due to their challenges as a result of NGGL’s operations.

The other inhabitants who are squatters should be left to their fate. 

DORMAA KANTINKA: 

On the issue of Dormaa Kantinka, members of the working group expressed their opinions as follows:

Nana Anin:  On water, the community confirmed that there were no issues and I stand by that.

On dust, we could not verify the amount of dust since at the time of our visit we could not see the machines working in a close distance.

So I cannot confirm the intensity of dust in the community. 

Unannounced blasting, NGGL confirmed that sometimes they failed to go by their scheduled times giving for blasting. 

On mosquitoes, I agree that the stagnant waters breed mosquitoes, which disturb the inhabitants thereby causing malaria.

The distance from the rocks to the people shows that water could flood rooms and farms lands whenever there is heavy down pour as a result of draining water from the rocks.

On bussing of pupils to and from school, NGGL has confirmed that the bus fails to convey the pupils sometimes.

On noise, we did not see the machines working in a close range, however with the distance of the rocks to the inhabitants, and with the numerous complaints from the inhabitants to us as committee members, I can say the noise is very disturbing to the inhabitants living around the dump site of the rocks. 

I suggest that comparing Yaroguruma and Dormaa Kantinka Communities, the main issues at Yaroguruma are not as many as compared to that of Dormaa Kantinka.  So I suggest that they need resettlement and compensation.

Hon. Afia Sarpong: On dust, NGGL are still dumping rocks close to the community so there is serious dust pollution.

On noise there is an alarming rate of noise at the community so much so that even those living at habitat sometimes feel the discomfort as a result of the noise emanating from NGGL activities.  There is also outbreak of strange diseases like swollen legs.  I suggest that the noise and the mosquito issues are enough reasons for NGGL to resettle all the community for them to enjoy peace in a serene atmosphere.

Abdul-Karim: On the issue of water, it is no more an issue since the community has confirmed that the borehole is now potable.  On dust we did not see the machine working in close range and so we did not see dust around. However, considering the distance of the rocks to the inhabitants, I can confidently say that there is dust whenever NGGL dump rocks within that distance.

On mosquitoes breeding, I know that the stagnant water close to the community is a possible breeding ground for mosquitoes.  On noise, I believe that whenever the machines dump rocks on those rocks we saw in a very close range, the sound from the machines and that from the falling rocks could be highly uncomfortable to the ears. 

I suggest that those who live there permanently and those who own farms should be resettled and compensated for.

FENUKU PAUL: On dust, I describe dust at Kantinka as death trap because the company always dumps over there, despite the hazard

 Noise: noise is one of our problems which, someone cannot imagine its intensity.  The machines work closer to us both day and night.

Pollution of water from borehole: Our water was polluted for about one and half years ago.  It was treated before the start of the committees work. 

Unannounced blasting: There has been unannounced blasting for time in immemorial. We the community complained to the company of their changing of time.    Yet NGGL did not find any solution to our worry.

Mosquitoes bites and breeding: It is true that since NGGL’s work got closer to the community, the stagnant waters became very common due to their activities which was confirmed by every committee member.  Since we know that stagnant waters serve as breeding sources of mosquitoes, I testify that there is outbreak of malaria.

Farmlands and houses get flooded with water from the waste rocks: Dormaa Kantinka as a community never faced a problem of flood or an erosion even during heavy rainy season until NGGL started dumping rocks close to the community

Overspeeding: The community had complained to NGGL of this matter over two years ago but the overspeeding has not stopped. I don’t think. NGGL would be able to do anything to help the situation since they would have done it long ago.

Cracks: It is not true that the vibration cannot break our buildings as any truthful person would accept that considering the distance of the pit to the community there will be serious vibration that can break or crack walls as denied by NGGL.

.

Pythons: The over flow of ECD4 facilitates the movement of the pythons and direct them to the community. They hide and eat up the livestock. It not true that because there are trees in the community that make these reptiles invade us. There are often villages even in typical forest areas but they do not experience this.

.

Recommendation:  I saw that the problem has existed over years and nothing has been done. NGGL can do nothing about the noise, dust or overflow of the Subiri River as they accept that the overflow of ECD4 is uncontrolled as it over flows naturally during rains.  I suggest that the community should be resettled.

Yaw Frimpong:  I strongly confirm that Dormaa Kantinka face a lot of challenges.   I bear witness that at the time of our first investigation by Resettlement Negotiation Committee (RNC), we could not even walk at certain places due to heavy silt as a result of erosions which ran through people’s homes and farms.  I suggested at that time and I am still suggesting now that from the boundary line to about 200 meters behind it should be taken by NGGL and compensate their property owners.  This place could serve as a buffer zone.  This means that all those living this range should be resettled.

Sylvester:  The noise and the dust are there.  We heard some noise but who knows their levels? I therefore suggest that the noise and dust should be monitored scientifically first.  On the distance from the rocks to the inhabitants I agree that it is very close.  However, at Mining areas before one puts up a structure he/she should first consult the mining company.  Therefore I can not give a concrete position until the monitoring is done.

Yaa Konadu:  At Dormaa Kantinka, it is obvious that due to stagnant water there is outbreak of malaria.  There were signs of erosion and flood in people’s rooms.  The blast has caused serious sicknesses like heart diseases.  The work is none stop and as a result, most people cannot sleep during day and night.  Some have experienced hearing problems.  The activities of NGGL are close to human habitat and thereby causing disturbance I suggest therefore that they should be evacuated.

Hafiz:  Noise, experts say that when one’s ear is exposed to noise for more than 30 minutes, it begins to have effects.  However the inhabitants are exposed to the noise for days without stopping.

Considering the various complaints raised and observed by Dormaa Kantinka and the DISEC working group respectively, even if they could ever have had been any intervention or mitigation measures to:

a.       The stagnant water which serves as breeding grounds for mosquitoes,

b.      Farmland and houses been flooded with rain water draining from NGGL dumped rocks

c.       Excessive noise resulting from NGGL operations of which majority of the committee members do not think so in that, it has been long overdue for those mitigation measures to be implemented. Upon series of meetings and petitions with NGGL, EPA and other opinion leaders and governmental bodies whose input hold water and absolutely nothing tangible was held or done about it.

However, in the aspect of:

d.      Unannounced blasting cannot withstand any mitigation measures besides resettlement of the community in that: NGGL cannot stop mining in that nearby pit.  NGGL however cannot mine without blasting and the blasting could result in heart disease, death and others as a results of it sudden nature and excessive vibration.

The pupils are not able to attend school due to the irregular busing problem. At this 21^st century, the pupils of this community are part of Ghana and have absolutely done nothing wrong to suffer this slavery in the hands of a business corporation.  The bus which does not come to convey the pupils during the first week schools re-open and anytime it rains. However NGGL is able to convey its workers to and from work by the same road. This has affected the pupils academically and has been in existence for more than four years and no opinion leader, government agency nor NGGL has done something to mitigate this critical and paramount concerned of the community.

If we should, having been aware, observe and confirm the above mentioned problems, it would be inhuman and highly illogical for any appropriate and prudent mitigation rather than NGGL and the government to resettle the very people of this community.  That is the ultimate option considering the merit of the above mentioned challenges of Dormaa Kantinka.

Generally, the technical man within the committee from EPA emphatically stated that as part of the office responsibilities, they have values of noise, and dust of which those values were taken during the day time and in the night hours.

The residents of Dormaa Kantinka should be resettled for better life.

Kofi Antwi and James Oduro’s position

Dust from tipping of the waste rocks

Yes one can see some sort of dust generated when trucks tip the material, but this is localized and settles in the immediate environs without spreading. The reasons;
2. The rocks that come from the Subika pit are very hard, do not easily get crashed so any dust generated dissipates within a minute or two
3. NGGL constantly monitors and reports to EPA on dust levels around the mine to confirm compliance to required standards.
4. This can be verified if the community will allow NGGL to install a monitoring device within the community.

Noise from tipping of the waste rocks

1. Monitoring at a location closer to these dumping points as per the mining plan has shown compliance to EPA noise guidelines.
2. It is our believe that when we resume monitoring at the community itself, we will see a better and compliant noise level. This will help clear everybody's mind on this complain.
3. We would like to appeal to the Working Group to allow us continue to take noise and blast readings to better assess the real impacts before the work of the Committee is concluded.

Pollution of water from borehole

1. It is clear from the work of the Working Group and also from water samples taken that their water sources are not polluted.

Unannounced blasting

1. Though we have had occasions where the blast time changed,  it is not a frequent occurrence.
2. We are putting in place measures to avoid such occurrences including Sirens
3. Mining dept. to adhere to EPA recommended blast times.

Mosquito bites and breeding

1.      The mitigation works (Drains, re-vegetation and fencing) was stopped by the community hence the stagnant water.
2. The pockets of pools we saw at the place where remnants of our inability to complete the clearing, vegetation, and berm due to community resistance. NGGL is ready to come and work to complete the work to eliminate these pools
3. . Other interventions including education are planned to manage this complain
4. The area is also low lying and therefore has some pools generated after rains and this needs to be managed by the people themselves

Farmlands and houses flooded with water from the waste dump

1. The proposed construction of the V-drains, berms, and vegetation of exposed areas would have improved conditions drainage in the area and mitigated the periodic flooding.

Bus provided by NGGL fails to pick pupils - Bussing issues for the school kids

1. This is an occasional occurrence
2. Working with contractor to ensure consistency to avoid such occurrences

Over speeding of NGGL/Contractors vehicle

1. C&G Manager to identify those NGGL vehicles that would usually ply that road and educate NGGL staff and Contractors to keep to speed limits.

Invasion of pythons

1. Occasional appearance cannot be ruled out everywhere.           
2. The location of this resident is in an area liable to flood and some of the houses built under trees which are safe haven for these reptiles.

Resettle the entire communities

1. Resettlement has always been the last resort for the company and even for government.
2. This only happens when there is clear evidence that the area is needed for mining or there is no mitigation for real or perceived impacts.
3. Even that there are clear government guidelines on Resettlement. In all cases the company needs to give justification to government before it can be permitted.
4. On current evidence and impact alleged, we do not have any issues to merit resettlement.
5. NGGL would however like to verify who the original inhabitants are since there has been a lot of speculative activities in the area.
Others-Community members not considered for National Service and attachment

There are general processes of recruiting National Service personnel. But the number required at each time depends on vacancies available and the budget.

NATIONAL SERVICE, ATTACHMENT AND CONTRACTORS ACTIVITIES

On employment, National Service, Attachments and Contractors’ activities, majority the members recommended as follows;

That there should be a new data and statistics on local – local employments.  This data and current state of the quota of local employees after the redundancy should include positions of employees. The data should be made available to local communities. The number of persons, qualification, and time frame of National Service and Attachment should be given earlier to the local communities.

National service and attachment should be separated from employment list

Forum should be directed to take these issues up

The land on which NGGL operates is for local communities. The Community should benefit immensely from their activities but not be at the losing end. 

There should be training programmes at the local level on the skills needed to work in the operational departments of NGGL. That is processing,geology, drill and blast, etc.

There should be students Representation in the Social Responsibility Forum (SRF)

List of National Service Personnel since 2008 should be provided to the local community showing clearly local- local against non locals and those who were retained per each respective year.

We recommend local Emerging Talent Programme should be designed and implemented at the local levels.

The committee recommends that for every particular year, local-local for National Service and Attachment should be at least 50%.

The current Apprenticeship Programme should include Graduates.

We further recommend continuous Entrepreneurship programmes for the community especially the youth in order to reduce tension.

On contractors’ activities, the majority of the group agreed as follows;

The Asutifi North District Assembly with all other stakeholders should invite all NGGL contractors to a forum, where the contractors will demonstrate their social responsibility commitment to the local community

NGGL should be tasked to assess, monitor and review it contract in all respect of their contract agreement with its contractors including quota of the work force, salaries of workers and definition of their contract.

All contractors whosoever, should be made to strictly abide by the contract agreement with NGGL or lose his or her contract to the one who shall do so.

CONCLUSION

It is obvious that the members of the Committee expressed their respective opinions according to how they assess the impacts.

On Yaroguruma Community, majority of the members saw that their major issues were unavailability of farm lands, long distance before access to potable water, problem with school bus and basic health needs.

At the end of the individual submissions, the majority hold the opinion that there were no better mitigation measures to solve the issues at Yaroguruma.  The majority of the members hold the view that all those residents and property owners at Yaroguruma facing challenges should be resettled and compensated to have a better life.

On the complaints of Dormaa Kantinka, after a long analysis and suggestions, it appeared that NGGL were unwilling to resettle the inhabitants.

However, majority of the members believe that for a peace co-existence between the company and the residents the mitigation of the company will not totally solve the problem.  The majority therefore hold the opinion that the residents and property owners who are living 250 metres behind the NGGL boundary line should be resettled and compensated including the hamlets behind the Subiri River who face difficulty in crossing the river during its overflow.

Appendix A