A framework on safeguarding and respecting human rights within the country’s extractive industries had been formulated to be soon adopted by government.
The framework, the’’ Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights’’ which is also a set of principles designed by Global Rights and Environment Ghana, Civil Society Organizations [CSOs] is to guide companies in maintaining the safety and security of their operations as well as encourage respect for human rights.
The two organizations commended the Government through the Sector Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Alhaji Inusah Fuseni for affirming its commitment to adopt the principles.
Government’s interest and commitment was described as a step in the right direction which makes Ghana the first country in Africa to do so.
During a joint press conference dubbed ‘’promoting human rights in extractive industry arrangements’’ in Accra on Tuesday, President of Global Rights and Livelihood, Miss, Abi Abiodunb underscored the importance of the principles to Ghana’s economy depends largely on the extractive industry.
She said ‘’ realizing the negativity for abuses where the rule of law is not enforced is enough motivation for a government such as that of Ghana to develop a framework that ensures businesses and host communities co-exist amicably’’.
Countries like Liberia and Sierra Leone could have done better if they had the Voluntary Principles operational before their respective conflicts began and that Nigeria she is hopeful it can lend a leaf from Ghana‘s proactive action in dealing with the challenges in its volatile extractive industry.
According to her, while the Guiding principles makes broad provision to address human rights violations related to business in general, the Voluntary Principles recognize a specific framework for ensuring that the rights of citizens are respected by extractive business and that a relational structure for security is developed instead of just a structural one.
She said, the UN’s guiding principles on Business and Human Rights recognizes the duty of Governments to protect the rights of all human beings, the duty of companies to respect one another, and that there must be access to remedies for victims.
“Following this ground breaking instrument, stakeholders within the extractive industry realized the need to take a step further by developing a specialized instrument to address growing concerns about human rights violations associated with extractive industries security arrangement in particular”, she said.
To this end, she commended extractive entities such as Tullow Oil, ANGLO-Gold Ashanti, Hess and Newmont for their commitment and further called on them to actively implement the principles with other stakeholders.
Ghana ‘s organized Civil Society Organizations she added, must become even more committed to the process as they are the essential catalyst as well as the bridge between host communities and other stakeholders.
“It takes a village to build a nation. All stakeholders must work together to ensure that the Ghanaian extractive industry aids human and capital development’’, the Groups President noted.
She commended extractive entities such as Tullow Oil, ANGLO-Gold Ashanti, Hess and Newmont for their commitment and further called on them to actively implement the principles with other stakeholders.
Ghana ‘s organized Civil Society Organizations she added must become even more committed to the process as they are the essential catalyst as well as the bridge between host communities and other stakeholders.
“It takes a village to build a nation. All stakeholders must work together to ensure that the Ghanaian extractive industry aids human and capital development’’, the Groups President noted.
http://www.modernghana.com/news/505782/1/confab-on-promoting-human-rights-held-govt-commend.html