The mining and oil industries, as well as other large scale businesses though offer massive benefits including economic development and jobs to their catchment communities, endure to face rivalry in their operating areas.
This is because their operations have the prospective of harmfully impacting on the quality of lives of people and the environment.
Program Manager, Sustainable Development and Security of the United Nations Fund for Peace Program, Ms. Hannah Blyth told the media at a training workshop on collaboration for ownership enhancing partnership and sustainability of the voluntary principles (VP) in Ghana for members of the Coastal Platform for Peace Building in Takoradi.
The VPs are a set of mandatory rules that regulate the activities of the mining sector to maximize the benefits from the exploitation of natural resources to both the inhabitants and the industries.
Ms. Hannah Blyth said that the voluntary principles was instituted such that companies perform regular risk assessment in policies, operations and activities, taking into account the principal economic and environment conditions.
The Program Manager said the voluntary principles on security and human rights have become a widely recognized standard for the extractive industries.
She added that though implementation of the VPs is first and foremost the responsibility of the extractive players, the participation of civil society and government and would facilitate effective implementation of the conditions.
The Program Manager said the Fund for Peace together with United States Department of State’s Bureau for Democracy, Rights and Labor in partnership with the West African Network for Peace Building (WANEP- Ghana) was working to guarantee that the VPs become more operational and entrenched across Ghana.
http://www.ghanalive.tv/2015/12/22/oil-industries-urged-to-endorse-voluntary-principles/