By Juliet Akosua Danquah
Women from communities affected by the proposed Ewoyaa Lithium Project have been warned to demand clear information, fair compensation and genuine consultation before mining begins, after hearing how residents of Tarkwa Banso lost farmlands, homes and livelihoods to mining.
The warning came during an exchange visit to Tarkwa Banso on Tuesday, 14 October, 2026, organised by Wacam in collaboration with the Centre for Public Interest Law (CEPIL) and Friends of the Nation (FoN) under the Transformative Women Human Rights Defenders in Extractives Communities in Ghana-OCI Seed Fund by Oxfam.
The exchange visit was aimed at facilitating peer learning and experience-sharing between women from the Ewoyaa area and communities with experience in natural resource operations and to strengthen women’s knowledge and capacity to engage companies and other stakeholders on their rights and development priorities.
The visit was part of a broader exchange visit from 12 to 15 October 2026 covering Ellembelle and Tarkwa in the Western Region.
It brought together 60 participants – 39 women and 21 men – from Krofu, Krampakrom, Afrangua, Anokyi, Ansaadze, Abonko and Ewoyaa in the Mfantsiman Municipal District, Central Region.
In Tarkwa Banso, participants interacted with members of a mining-affected community and heard first-hand experiences relating to mining operations, resettlement, compensation, livelihood restoration and environmental concerns.
Residents shared experiences of displacement, resettlement, inadequate replacement housing, compensation challenges, loss of farmland and livelihoods and environmental impacts.
They explained how the loss of farmland affected their income and food security, and how resettlement disrupted their social and economic lives.
For the women from Ewoyaa, the engagement provided important lessons on what to expect and what to guard against as the proposed Ewoyaa Lithium Project advances.
The engagement at Tarkwa Banso exposed participants to community experiences relating to displacement, resettlement, inadequate replacement housing, compensation, loss of farmland and livelihoods and environmental impacts.
It also strengthened awareness of community rights and meaningful participation. Discussions with residents highlighted the importance of meaningful consultation, access to information and community involvement in decisions concerning land, resettlement and livelihood restoration.
Participants gained practical perspectives on the need to seek clarity and hold companies accountable for their commitments.
The organisers urged companies and other stakeholders to ensure that community engagement goes beyond providing information.
Companies and other stakeholders need to create opportunities for residents to ask questions, express concerns and receive clear responses on decisions affecting their lives.
The visit also reinforced the need to ensure that women are adequately represented in discussions concerning land acquisition, compensation, resettlement and livelihood restoration, given the implications of these decisions for their socio-economic well-being.
The organisers noted that learning from mining-affected communities strengthens community preparedness, as the experiences offer important lessons for communities preparing to engage with mining companies.
However, they acknowledged that translating lessons into practical action will require continued facilitation and support.
While the visit provided valuable exposure, ensuring that participants share the lessons with other community members and apply them in engagements with Atlantic Lithium and relevant authorities will require sustained engagement.
