Concerning
About 30,000 people in the
Brong–Ahafo–Region, Northwest Ghana, are threatened with losing their land
and the right to feed oneself due to the construction of the
hydroelectricity Bui–dam.
Background
With the construction of Ghana's
third hydroelectricity dam, a population of approximately 30,000 people
have to fear relocation or a decline in essential fishing grounds as well
as an increase in dangerous diseases.
The country's first
hydroelectricity dam, the Akosombo–dam in Southeast Ghana, was built in
1966. The disastrous consequences of unfair compensation and resettlement
which followed the construction and the recent power rationing due to too
little water in the Akosombo dam are still fresh in the minds of
Ghanaians. The majority of the 80,000 people, who were relocated, have
never been provided with compensation, neither in money nor in the
provision of adequate land.
The proposed Bui–dam will be
located in the Bui National Park and the total area of land to be flooded
fluctuates from about 17,800 hectares to 68,500 hectares, depending upon
the final decision taken on the dam's elevation. The Dokokyina village
situated within the park will be submerged by the dam flood. Depending
upon the total area to be flooded, the number of directly affected
inhabitants will vary from 652 to 4433 people. No satisfactorily
resettlement or compensation plan for these people has so far been
drafted. Furthermore, the government has not taken into account the
destruction of means of subsistence faced by some 30,000 people's means of
subsistence. These communities are scattered around the national park.
They will face considerable problems due to a severe decline in the
economically important fish resources. These are likely to be heavily
reduced, and some species may disappear from the river entirely, as a
consequence of the increased pollution and changes in water temperature
resulting from the dams' construction. The population's basic food income
will thus diminish and threaten their right to feed themselves.
The dominant ethnic group in the
area is the Mafi, fisherfolk, who live in close solidarity with their
sacred land and are dependent on its resources. Traditional values and the
respect for nature are a main concern for the Mafi as well as other ethnic
groups located in the region.
The construction of the Bui–dam in
Ghana could end as another shortsighted investment poject. Power supply
from the already established dams has been anything but reliable.
Environmentalists have been left searching for the logic behind the
government's avowed determination to go ahead with the construction of the
Bui–dam due to long periods of droughts in the sub–region with too little
water to power the turbines. Moreover, as a result of the obvious
irreparable adverse impact on local people and the environment, the World
Bank and the European Investment Bank have shunned the project.
Reason
for the urgent action
The establishment of the Bui–dam
would threaten the means of subsistence of up to 30,000 people, through
the submergence and the destruction of the fishing resources.
The memorandum of understanding
between the government and private investors, which are: Brown and Root
(UK); Alstom Hydro Limited (UK); Grupo Dragados SA of Spain and Hyundai of
South Korea, was signed on October, 15th, 1999 and the construction of the
dam will start soon.
Although the dam construction was
planned from 2001 it is reported that some work has already been carried
out without the promised social and environmental impact assessment.
An international protest letter
addressed to the President of Ghana will pressurise him to establish a
satisfactory resettlement and compensation plan for all communities
affected by the proposed dam before the construction work commences, in
order to protect their right to feed themselves.
Proposed
action
Please send a polite letter to the
President of Ghana, Mr. Jerry Rawlings, in which you ask him not to start
the construction of the dam before detailed proposals about the
compensation have been implemented. Request him to make sure that adequate
land is given to the people living within the national park as well as to
the population scattered around the park which has to leave the area due
to diminishing fish resources and the increase of dangerous diseases.
Furthermore, ask him to inform us about any measures he has undertaken in
this regard.
Addresses
President of Ghana The Minister
Jerry Rawlings Ministry of Mines and Energy
P.O.Box 1627 P.O.Box 40
The Castle, Osu Stadium
Accra Accra
Ghana Ghana
Honorable President
Jerry Rawlings
The Castle, Osu
P.O.Box 1627
Accra
Ghana
Honorable President,
Recently, I have been informed
about the threats to the right to feed themselves of the communities
living in the submergence area of the Bui–dam. According to my
information, a minimum of 652 people will lose all access to land and
depending upon the flood area up to 30,000 will see their access to
resources partly or fully destroyed.
The withdrawal of the World Bank
and the European Investment Bank from the project
due to the expected irreparable
impact on local people and the environment, clearly indicates the level of
international concern surrounding it.
Previous experiences with the
Akosombo–dam have not been encouraging. The majority of the 80,000 people
relocated were not provided with any kind of compensation.
As a State Party to the African
Charter on Human Rights, Ghana has the obligation to ensure that "All
people shall have the right to their economic, social and cultural
development with due regard to their freedom and identity and in the equal
enjoyment of the common heritage of mankind". (Article 22)
More specifically Article 21.2
states that "In case of spoliation the dispossessed people shall have
the right to the lawful recovery of its property as well as to an adequate
compensation".
Furthermore, Ghana is a member of
the United Nations and therefore agrees with the provisions of the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights and consequently must protect the
right to adequate food for all parts of its population.
As a person working internationally
for the human right to feed oneself, I would like to ask you to:
– ensure that adequate
rehabilitation through the provision of equivalent land or fair financial
compensation is given to the people within the national park as well as to
the population scattered around the park, whom will also face considerable
problems due to a fundamental decline in fish resources; their basic
foodstuffs.
– make sure that the investors
submit a comprehensive environmental and social impact assessement before
starting the construction work on the Bui–dam. Please keep me updated on
the measures you intend to take in this matter.
