AngloGold Educates Community on Local Governance

A Global Gold Mining Company, AngloGold Ashanti, as part of its Corporate Social Responsibilities, held a workshop on local governance to educate community leaders at the Iduapriem Gold Mine in Tarkwa.

The training was aimed at deepening the understanding of the Local Governance Act 2016; Act 936 among the community leaders.

Opening the workshop, the Municipal Director for Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), Mr. Ernest Gyabeng, explained the rationale behind the Act and urged participants to channel their grievances to CHRAJ rather than handle them at individual levels.

On her part, the Municipal Planning Officer, Mrs. Amanda Adjei, encouraged the traditional leaders to collaborate with the assembly in bringing development to their various communities.

“There should be peace between chiefs and community members so that, together, they can champion for various developmental agenda rather than oppose each other”, she emphasized.

The Municipal National Commission on Civic Education (NCCE) director, Peter Dyaka, and Frederick Kaayeng of the Information Services Department (ISD), respectively called on the chiefs to regularly access their offices whenever they are confronted with issues regarding their rights, civic duties and land administration for redress, instead of trying to handle them on their own.

Speaker after speaker walked participants through the decentralization structure, the role of traditional leaders in governance, citizens’ participation in the local governance act, removing obstacles that militate against development and holding leaders accountable in the execution of projects for the communities.

The visibly elated host community leaders indicated that the workshop was an eye-opener into the entire Local Governance Act 2016 which hitherto was far-fetched.

“This opportunity given us by the mine is enormous in helping us to know our civic duties as advisory agents in our communities”. Edmund Nokoe, representing the Odikro of Mile Seven said.

Nana Kwesi Attobrah II, the Divisional Chief of Esuaso, who chaired the workshop, also expressed his appreciation to the mine for the training which he described as very timely.