15th Annual NRE Sector Review Forum

Every year, for fifteen years Kasa has been bringing together key actors in the Natural Resources and Environment Governance sector to deliberate on the development in the sector and gaps identified while recommending policy reforms to state actors. This year, Kasa partnered with UK-Ghana Gold programme to implement the 15th annual NRE sector review forum which had participation from state and non-state actors. Under the theme:confronting the scourge of illegal mining; required policy change and the role of political commitment, the seven Kasa coalitions converged to present their findings. For two days on 3rd and 4th December 2024, participants from member coalitions converged with updates, research material and policy reform proposals. Kasa Initiative Ghana is a platform for Civil society Organisations working in water, mining, fisheries, land, climate change and environment, forestry and oil and gas. Kasa with support from well constituted coalitions is able to engage stakeholders and influence policy processes by offering valuable recommendations informed by its interactions with various actors and communities. The NRE Forum then offers a chance for all coalitions to not only update each other on various initiatives undertaken but also address stakeholders in unison. The 15TH Forum’s aim was to shed light on the ravages of illegal mining on various aspects of day to day life such as availability of water and impacts of climate change. With mining expedition encroaching in forests, water

bodies and farm lands, this brings on a border issue that now poses danger to communities uninvolved in the practice. The coalitions made linkages between the illegal mining and the negative developments now being seen in various environmental and economic aspects.

 

UK Ghana Gold programme presentation on tax gaps in the mining sector due to lack of regulation. Small scale private mining companies do not operate in stipulated ways making it difficult for the government and in extension communities to benefit from the proceeds. “ Ghana’s 1992 constitution vests ownership of minerals to the people of Ghana and is held in trust by the president” Dr. Steve Manteaw, UK Ghana Gold Programme. In his presentation, he recommended a royalties programme to compensate community members from mining areas. This model would involve traditional leaders such as chiefs, local government and national government. Coordinated efforts would be required to ensure community members actually benefited from it.

A panel discussion culminated the two day forum tackling the financial and socio-eco nomic impacts of illegal mining; royalties model, human rights violation, porous

borders and the global gold supply chain. Comprising experts in mining, research and financial fields, the panelist delivered their opinions on ongoing discourses pertaining to the mining industry. Apart from environmental degradation, mining has a direct impact to Ghana’s social aspect with foreigners being involved in the mining activities “ Ghana has not invested in border control to monitor what goods are coming in and out of Ghana” Professor Kwesi Awinin

On regulation in the supply chain Solidaridad West Africa gave expert opinion informed by their processes as gold buyers. “ Gold buyers are now keen on traceability. Information such as the source of the gold, how it was mined and if human rights were upheld is now crucial,” Rosemary Addico, Solidaridad West Africa.



As it is custom, the forum ended with a communique issued by the seven coalitions and delivered by the Kasa chairperson. The communique offers a way forward for Ghana’s development efforts in various aspects. Containing input from all the thematic areas present, the communique is shared with media and also duty bearers. The communique provides guidelines for engagement with relevant stakeholders and duty bearers to ensure progress in the coming year. Acting as reference, the impact of the communique is monitored and results presented in the next forum.

 

The full Communique can be found here: https://www.kasaghana.org/15th-annual-cso-nre-sector-review-forum-2024-communiqe

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Past Projects

Kasa's efforts in restoring mangrove forests to mitigate coastal erosion

The Keta lagoon tragedy is still edged in the minds of residents who helplessly watched as the sea claimed their loved ones lives, their property and even robbed their gravesites. Now, all that’s left of a once thriving community is stumps of houses and sunken hopes evident by their scowled faces. This phenomenon is unfortunately becoming common along Ghana coastlines as the sea levels rise and take claim to lives, land and property.

One of the evidence of climate change is rising temperatures which impact the sea and oceans in various ways. One is melting polar ice which leads to expansion of oceans which in turn encroach on lands such as Keta. Secondly, the high temperatures which are stored in the water exacerbates water acidity which then degrades coral reefs and even mangroves; which act as sea defense. Cases such as Keta’s can be observed world over, in coastal areas.

The Government of Ghana has responded to this recurring disaster with measures to keep the sea at bay and relocation propositions for community members. Along  Ghana’s volta region and other coastal regions, one can observe sea defense systems protecting coastlines from strong tidal waves that cause erosion, flooding, amongst other hazards. These engineered structures are fortified to ensure durability and restoration of normally for coastal communities. However, as with most man made structures, there is a lifespan to such structures.  That is why organisations such as Kasa Initiative Ghana advocate for Nature based solutions such as planting of Mangroves.

Mangroves forests not only act as sea defense but perform as carbon sinks better than terrestrial forests. Additionally, their roots create an ecosystem for marine life to start and thrive. Marine creatures such as turtles and fish rely on this ecosystem for survival in initial life stages before venturing into the deep sea. Kasa with support from IUCN and Forestry commission sought  to restore mangrove in South Tongu District of the Volta Region. The exercise, done in collaboration with youth, women and men from the communities not only identified locations for restoration but also provided seedlings and carried out the planting. The initiative also engaged community members on the importance of mangrove forest in the environment and what it takes to ensure the forests reach maturity. 

 

In previous years, communities along the coastline in the Volta region were well barricaded from tidal waves by thinning mangrove forests. However, due to livelihood activities such as mangrove harvesting, the forests are now shrinking and far apart. Smoking of fish and other seafood is common in these areas with mangrove being the preferred source of firewood. Due to this, introduction of alternative livelihood is a key component to restoration efforts to avoid a recurrence of the current where firewood heaps are aligned along the coastline and in markets. 

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