By Dominic Adoboli, GNA Mr Albert Yelyang, National Network Coordinator of WANEP, said there were “co-benefits” in the industry and underscored the importance of collaboration among the players to harvest those yields.Mr Yelyang said a key area where stakeholders needed to collaborate was the management of expectations from the public to address grievances and avert possible violent conflicts.Eighteen representatives including; traditional rulers, civil society groups, the police, Bureau of National Investigations (BNI), the media, local mining groups, youth leaders and women groups attended the dialogue session.Mr Yelyang told stakeholders that conflicts relating to the mining sector were largely perceptions and real issues could be managed depending on the strategies used.Mr Yelyang commended the SSSC, Government and the Communities for their commitment for peace so far, and noted WANEP will be following up on the new government-proposed MOU on the project and the survey by the Water Research Institute in the area. It guides companies in conducting comprehensive human rights assessment in their engagement with public and private sector providers to ensure protection of human rights in matters regarding protection of company facilities and premises.A team of three Early Warning Monitors were nominated and briefed to enhance the VPs platform in the area.
-
- It builds capacity for stakeholders on conflict management and provides an early warning tool on potential conflicts.
- The VPs is a multi-stakeholder initiative comprising government, companies, communities, and non-governmental organization that promote a set of principles that guide oil, gas and mining companies including salt companies.
- He said WANEP was implementing the VPs project with support from US-based Fund for Peace (FFP) to complement Government’s implementation programme of the VPS in mining areas.
- The session on the theme: “Enhancing natural resource governance and community peace and security through dialogue”, was to review threats identified in the first dialogue and possible threats for solutions.
- Deadly conflict a year ago, between Adina-based Seven Seas Salt Company (SSSC) and outlying communities who vandalised company equipment, was the local case study for the VPs dialogue.
- He said this in an interview with the GNA after a second dialogue on Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights (VPS) in the extractive industry for stakeholders in the Volta Region at Denu, Ketu South Municipality.
- The West African Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP) – Ghana, has challenged stakeholders in the extractive industry to endeavour to work together for harmony in the sector.
http://www.ghananewsagency.org/politics/wanep-calls-for-stakeholder-collaboration-in-extractive-industry-128081