The environmental advocacy organisation, WACAM, has expressed concerns that Ghana's future is under threat if the State prioritizes mineral extraction over the lives, livelihoods, and natural environment of its citizens. According to WACAM, the risk is alarming in communities where security protects mineral access but not the people. The organisation's Assistant Executive Director, Mrs. Hannah Owusu-Koranteng, stated that rights enshrined in the laws of the land are of little use if citizens cannot afford to challenge unfair valuations or endure lengthy court proceedings.
Mrs. Owusu-Koranteng was speaking at the 10th Annual Conference of the Ghana Sociological and Anthropological Association at the University of Cape Coast (UCC). The conference, themed "Our Future at Risk: Social Exclusion, Resource Extraction and Security in Contemporary Africa," brought together representatives from public tertiary institutions, researchers, policymakers, civil society actors, and other stakeholders. The forum explored the impact of resource extraction and social exclusion on Africa's social, economic, environmental, and security landscapes.
Participants at the conference highlighted rising inequality, environmental damage, and community displacement, calling for stronger accountability in the governance of the continent's natural resources. Mrs. Owusu-Koranteng advocated for a broader measure of "responsible mining" that goes beyond revenue, emphasizing that true responsibility in mineral exploitations should be judged by whether communities closest to operations retain dignity, voice, livelihoods, environmental protection, and a rightful role in deciding their future.
WACAM's call for action includes strengthened complaint systems, expanded legal aid, community paralegal support, and protection for human-rights defenders and people affected by resource extraction. The organisation emphasized that lasting solutions require collective responsibility across sectors, including public institutions, companies, traditional authorities, universities, and civil society. Prof. Stephen Kendie, a former Provost of the College of Humanities and Legal Studies at UCC, cautioned that the link between social exclusion, resource extraction, and insecurity is one of contemporary Africa's defining challenges.
Prof. Kendie noted that Africa's security is inseparable from social justice and economic inclusion, and that military force can only tackle immediate threats, not deep-rooted insecurity caused by inequality, environmental harm, and political marginalization. He advocated for accountable governance, economic diversification, environmental protection, and inclusive political participation to turn resource wealth into human security and sustainable development. Prof. Georgina Yaa Oduro, Head of Sociology and Anthropology at UCC, highlighted the stark contrast between Ghana's abundant natural resources and the ongoing social and environmental hardships faced by many communities.
Prof. Oduro pointed to illegal and irresponsible mining as a major driver of environmental harm, citing the Pra River's severe pollution as a visible example. She described the pollution of the Ayensu River, which had deprived communities in her native area of safe drinking water for months. Prof. Oduro warned that polluted rivers, loss of agricultural land, and youth unemployment all threaten social stability, urging sociologists, anthropologists, social workers, and other social scientists to engage more actively in tackling exclusion, inequality, and vulnerabilities.
The conference chair, Prof. Daniel Agyapong, emphasized that resource extraction and social exclusion have wider consequences and argued that communities must be central to development processes. The event provided a platform for stakeholders to discuss the impact of resource extraction on Ghana's future and the need for a more inclusive and sustainable approach to natural resource management. Key issues discussed included the need for stronger accountability, environmental protection, and social justice.
Key points
- WACAM warns Ghana's prioritization of mineral extraction poses significant risks to the country's future.
- The organisation calls for a broader measure of "responsible mining" that prioritizes community dignity, voice, livelihoods, and environmental protection.
- Stakeholders advocate for accountable governance, economic diversification, and inclusive political participation to turn resource wealth into human security and sustainable development.
