Fisherfolk at Axim, Butre and Shama in the Western Region say a three-day stakeholder engagement with Gold Coast GRC Ghana Limited has given them a better understanding of the company’s proposed Marine Scientific Reconnaissance and Environmental Demonstration Programme.
The engagement follows concerns among coastal communities that the company’s proposed offshore activities could lead to deep-sea mining and threaten fishing livelihoods and the marine environment.
Some fisherfolk had initially been concerned that Gold Coast GRC intended to undertake mining activities in Ghana’s territorial waters. However, they say explanations provided by the company have given them a different understanding of its proposed operations.
Vice Chairman of the Ghana National Canoe Fishermen Council in the Western Region, Michael Nokoe, said the initial information available to fishing communities suggested that the company intended to mine minerals in Ghana’s territorial waters.
He said the engagement had clarified that the company’s immediate objective was to conduct scientific research to establish whether gold deposits exist offshore.
“We first heard of them that they are coming to do mining in Ghana territorial waters. That was what we heard from the very beginning, but from today’s meeting, they have explained to us that they are not coming to mine, they only come to do research, to find out if indeed Ghana will have gold in our territorial waters,” he said.
Mr Nokoe said he would use the opportunity to educate other fisherfolk and members of the public about the explanations provided by the company.
He said the information initially circulated about the company’s activities differed from what was explained during the engagement.
Another participant, a fish processor, Emelia Abeka-Adu of Axim community, said the engagement had helped her understand that the proposed programme was a scientific study.
She said participants also raised questions about illegal mining during their interaction with the company, with representatives explaining that tackling illegal mining was not the motive behind the proposed programme.
Meanwhile, Environmental, Social and Governance Lead of Gold Coast GRC Ghana Limited, Daniel Osei-Bonsu, said the engagement was intended to gather the views of fisherfolk and other stakeholders.
He said concerns raised included fears that the proposed reconnaissance activities could affect fishing livelihoods and questions about measures to address any potential impacts.
“Amongst them were their perception that the reconnaissance processes or activities might impact on their livelihoods. And also some were interested in if the incident or any impact should occur, what mitigations we have in place to take care of such impacts,” he explained.
Mr Osei-Bonsu said the company had developed an impact and aspects register to guide further engagement and the development of agreements with stakeholders.
“There is going to be a guiding document that we would build on and develop stability agreements with them going forward,” he said.
As part of the engagements, Gold Coast GRC Ghana Limited also paid a courtesy call on the Paramount Chief of the Essikado Traditional Area, Nana Kobina Nketsia V, who received the company’s delegation and welcomed the engagement with the coastal communities.
The three-day engagement covered Axim, Butre and Shama as the company continues efforts to explain its proposed marine scientific reconnaissance activities and gather feedback from coastal communities.
By Francoise Kpogno
