Hannah Owusu-Koranteng, Associate Executive Director of Wacam
Stakeholders, including civil society organizations (CSOs), traditional leaders, and legal experts, have called for a review of Ghana’s compulsory land acquisition processes in the extractive sector to ensure fairness, environmental sustainability, and community inclusion.
At a national-level stakeholder convening organized by A Rocha Ghana, Wacam, BRACE, CEPIL, Merton and Everett, and Oxfam in Ghana, participants raised concerns over the seizure of lands for mining and petroleum projects without proper consultation with affected communities.
Speaking at the event on March 25, 2025, Daryl Bosu, Director of A Rocha Ghana, emphasized the need for a national dialogue on the issue.
“Today’s meeting brings together both state and non-state stakeholders to discuss compulsory land acquisition.
“There have been precedents where lands in the Tano North area have been taken for Newmont’s mining activities, and the same is happening in the Nzema area for the petroleum hub development. But the key question is: are these acquisitions fair?
“This discussion aims to rethink the process and find better approaches,” he stated.
Hannah Owusu-Koranteng, Associate Executive Director of Wacam, expressed concerns over the increasing use of state power to seize lands for extractive projects, often at the expense of indigenous communities.
“In the past, before mining concessions were granted, the consent of local communities was sought.
“However, we have moved to a situation where the state is coercing and using force to take over lands without proper consultation. In places like Ahafo, there is growing intimidation, leaving communities powerless against these acquisitions,” she noted.
Traditional leaders also voiced their frustrations over the lack of engagement in land acquisition processes.
Nana Akawonza III, Divisional Chief of Bakanta in the Ellembelle District, criticized the government for sidelining landowners and community leaders.
“We, the local people, have no say in what happens. One day, you just hear that the government wants this land, and before you know it, they have taken it.
“They use money through different channels to get what they want without consulting us. But they need to sit down with landowners and discuss terms before acquiring land,” he stressed.
A key concern raised at the forum was the fear among residents of Jomoro in the Western Nzema Traditional Area that the 20,000-hectare project would compromise the region’s ecological value. The CSOs also highlighted a similar situation in the Tano North Municipality.
The meeting concluded with calls for a review of policies and legal frameworks governing land acquisitions in Ghana’s extractive sector.
Stakeholders urged the government to adhere to Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) principles, ensure transparency, and engage affected communities in decision-making processes to prevent conflicts and human rights violations.
Meanwhile, catch the first in the series of our special episodes on Forgotten Forts on People and Places on GhanaWeb TV below. This episode focuses on Fort Amsterdam at Abandze: