ActionAid Ghana has launched the Uplifting the Voices of Mining Communities (VOICES) project, aimed at strengthening the voice, agency and collective power of mining communities to participate meaningfully in decisions that affect their land, livelihoods and environment.
Funded by Comic Relief, the two-year project is being implemented across Ghana, Malawi and Senegal, with the Ghana component targeting Mfantseman in the Central Region, Ahafo Ano South West in the Ashanti Region, Asutifi North in the Ahafo Region and Talensi in the Upper East Region.
The initiative seeks to promote mineral justice, inclusive mineral governance, environmental accountability and meaningful participation of mining communities in decisions affecting their lives.
Under the project, 80 women leaders and youth representatives will receive training in extractive-sector governance, climate-resilient livelihoods, advocacy, campaigning and artistic activism.
ActionAid Ghana will also establish and strengthen four community-based monitoring committees to enable community members and journalists to document environmental, social, labour, human-rights concerns among others.
Integrate mining companies
Addressing the launch last Tuesday, September 15, 2026, the Country Director, ActionAid Ghana, John Nkaw, urged the Ghana Chamber of Mines to support the government's efforts to integrate mining companies into local economies through the mining procurement list.
He said the initiative should form part of efforts to advance the government's local-content and indigenisation policy and create more opportunities for Ghanaian businesses to participate in the mining value chain.
According to him, stronger local participation would promote business development in mining communities and help Ghana move away from the enclave nature of mining.
Also, he called on the government to revisit the establishment and operationalisation of district mining committees as prescribed by law, saying “such structures can provide communities with avenues to participate more directly in the management of the mining sector”.
Mr Nkaw emphasised that communities must have the capacity to participate meaningfully in decisions concerning their land, livelihoods, environment and natural resources.
He noted that although Ghana had undertaken several interventions to increase awareness of extractive-sector governance, there was still the need to update community knowledge on developments and policy gaps within mining and mineral laws.
Economic benefits, costs
Mr Nkaw acknowledged mining's significant contribution to Ghana's economy, citing employment, foreign exchange earnings and public revenue.
Citing the 2024 Ghana National Annual Progress Report, he said mineral production contributed an estimated 9.5 per cent of GDP, while mineral export earnings increased by 52.7 per cent to $11.9 billion.
However, he cautioned that the economic benefits of mining must be considered alongside challenges including land degradation, pollution of water bodies, disrupted livelihoods, displacement, labour concerns and human-rights issues.
“This is why the conversation about mining cannot be limited to production, exports and economic growth.
It must also be a conversation about people, rights, environmental protection and justice,” he said.
Speaking to journalists during the event, Policy Analyst and Co-Chair of the Ghana Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (GHEITI), Dr Emmanuel Steve Asare Manteaw, criticised the management of Ghana's mineral resources over the years.
Based on his assessment, he said Ghana had managed its mineral sector recklessly, particularly by spending mineral revenues on consumption rather than capital investments.
On the VOICES Project, he described it as a useful intervention that could help address fundamental challenges facing mining communities, manage community expectations and promote community improvement and cohesion.
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