The Centre for Public Interest Law (CEPIL) has equipped 39 community members affected by mining operations with practical legal knowledge on compensation, land rights and grievance mechanisms under the Oxfam in Ghana Fair Finance Project.
The one-day workshop, held at the Asutifi North District Assembly Hall in the Ahafo Region, on December 16, 2025, brought together representatives from community-based organisations (CBOs), the district assembly, traditional council members, the media and directly affected residents.
Of the 39 participants, 25 were women. Two persons with disabilities also took part.
Participants were guided through resettlement and compensation laws, including compulsory acquisition under Article 20 of Ghana’s 1992 Constitution. Simplified explanations were provided on the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703), LI 2175, the Land Commission Act, 2008 (Act 767) and the Land Use and Spatial Planning Act, 2016 (Act 925).
Sessions focused on land rights, Free Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC), compensation standards, environmental obligations, and available pathways for legal redress. Real community case studies, including experiences related to Newmont operations in Ahafo and Akyem, were used to clarify rights and regulatory options.
Post-training assessments recorded improved legal awareness and confidence. One participant said: “Now I understand what it entails before I sign anything.”
Another added: “If you don’t understand it, you don’t sign.”
Participants also received practical guidance on documentation practices, including taking photographs, videos, and securing survey plans.
Challenges noted included weak enforcement of FPIC and limited access to formal justice mechanisms due to cost and distance.
After the workshop, CEPIL committed to follow up on the legal literacy sessions and link trained community members to legal aid and CSO support for case follow-up.
