By: Razak Baba
TrustAfrica , a Pan African foundation has organized a four-day capacity building workshop in Kumasi for civil society organizations, the media, women and youth groups from the Western and Western North Regions aimed at promoting inclusive growth and sustainable supply chains in the Gold sector in Ghana.
The workshop is part of a five-year programme dubbed, “RECLAIM Sustainability”, which seeks to contribute to sustainable and inclusive gold, cocoa and oil palm supply chains, in which producers receive a fair value for their produce and work under safe conditions.
Farmers, artisanal small-scale miners and workers in Ghana are key players in tackling major challenges such as poverty and climate change, yet their voices are often unheard.
The “RELCAIM Sustainability” Programme being implemented by TrustAfrica in partnership with Solidaridad will therefore create a civic space, where the interests, voices and rights of farmers, workers and citizens are represented and heard indecision making while promoting a supportive public sector, a responsible private sector and a vibrant and strong civil society.
This, TrustAfrica believes, is needed to contribute to an inclusive and sustainable economy.
The training and capacity building workshop in Kumasi was to equip civil society organizations, the media, youth and women in leadership positions with the knowledge and tools to advocate for policy change in their communities.
This is expected to contribute to a sustainable gold, oil palm and cocoa production, trade and resilient livelihoods for those in the value chains, especially women and small-scale farmers.
The need for capacity building was driven by previous engagement by TrustAfrica to understand the level of CSOs, media, youth and women’s involvement and strength in advocacy activities around land rights and other challenges affecting women and the community farmers in the the gold value chain.
An Energy and Extractive Consultant, Madam Pauline Anaman, who was a resource person, said policies developed using the top-to-bottom approach become ineffective because smallholders and local communities whose livelihoods are affected and influenced by the policies are not involved in the formulation and decision-making processes.
A Gender Consultant, Madam Elham Mumuni underscored the need for well structured strategies and action to address key challenges in decent working conditions, income fairness and sustainable natural resources management.
The West Africa Programme Coordinator for TrustAfrica, Madam Gyabaah Rachel explained that the advocacy training would help for inclusive dialogue, amplify voices and accelerate innovation to ensure sustainable natural resources management.
The TrustAfrica Programme Manager for Africa, Dr. Bethule Nyamambi where civil society organizations could influence national policies particularly in the mining sector, their voices are limited due to several constraints, which include the fragmented efforts of actors involved in engaging the government, and the lack of capacity to mobilize like-minded actors to enter into dialogue, coalitions, and propose new solutions in advocacy.
She was hopeful that at the end of the workshop, the capacity of civil society groups will be improved to bargain for equitable access and sustainable use of natural resources.
