Wacam together with ACEP, CEPIL and CEIA have started mobilising communities in and around Sheini to demand for responsible exploitation of iron ore by Cardero in their communities. This is an OSIWA sponsored project which seeks to address the recurrent challenges of resource extraction such as environmental degradation, human rights abuses and livelihood loses which often leave communities in abject poverty.
Wacam and the team made an entry visit into seven communities in the iron ore exploitation area whose livelihoods have been affected by the company’s activities. The communities include Sheini, Kandin, Wajado, Nankando, Kampuni, Sambaa and Agyei Dumbo. The journey started with a courtesy call on the overlord of Dagbon, who expressed his satisfaction with the kind of work the team was doing. He also expressed his appreciation of the team’s visit to him and further showed the boundaries where the iron ore concession is. He gave the team his blessings and asked the team to come to him anytime they needed him. The team in a group picture with the chief of Sheini after an engagement with them
During the engagement with the communities on the iron ore exploitation, one of the chiefs said that they were made to believe that the exploitation of the mineral was going to create jobs to fast track development in their area, but after some time they have come to realise that they are losing all that they have as a community. It was discovered that the activities of Cardero Mining Company has resulted in some right abuses and destroyed the environment as well. Some community dwellers made allegations that, although their farms had been destroyed without their permission, they had not been compensated. The people further complained that the company’s vehicles has knocked down the livestock of farmers but the company has shown no remorse for that. Members of the community also accused the company of polluting their streams without providing them with alternative sources of water. A bridge that links some communities has been badly damaged by the mining company’s activities and has since not been repaired. To complicate things, too much noise from the operations of the company is making life uncomfortable for the local people.
A bridge alleged to be damaged by the operations of the mining company
Wacam's vehicle wading through the water to reach other communities
Wacam took the opportunity to share with the communities similar experiences from other affected mining communities. Also, Wacam urged the community people to unite and protect their rights as citizens of the country.
The Sheini iron ore concession, which was discovered by Soviet geologists in the 1960s and has been proved viable and in commercial quantity, is one of the finest and largest iron ore deposits ever discovered in Africa. Subsequent geological surveys conducted recently by various mining companies have also confirmed the viability of the minerals buried under the Sheini Hills. Sheini has three hills which are rich in iron. The analysis on the stones at Sheini Hills by some of the companies indicated that the stones were about 80.9 per cent rich in iron ore with traces of other minerals, including diamond, bauxite, manganese, silica, clinker and potassium. The concession could be mined continuously on daily basis without depletion for 100 years.