Bibiani: The Centre for Public Interest Law (CePIL) has conducted a training program for some residents of bauxite mining communities in the Western North Region, empowering them to serve as paralegals in their respective areas.
According to Ghana News Agency, CePIL, a non-profit organization dedicated to advocating justice and fairness, improving democratic governance, and ensuring accountability, organized the training with funding from the Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA). The event took place in Bibiani within the Bibiani/Anhwiaso/Bekwai Municipality. The initiative aimed to equip 50 individuals, including teachers, traders, miners, drivers, students, and farmers, aged between 15 and 60, from communities such as Nyinahin, Awaso, Saakrom, Kyekyewere, Mpasaaso, Apenimadi, and Kasotie.
The training focused on imparting basic legal knowledge concerning human rights, mining laws, and the nation's legal systems. The participants were educated on their roles and responsibilities as paralegals, tasked with identifying and resolving human rights violations in their communities. They were also trained in supporting communities affected by mining abuses to access justice and utilize Alternative Dispute Resolution processes.
Mr. Augustine Niber, Executive Director of CePIL, emphasized the importance of the paralegals understanding their role, cautioning them against posing as legal practitioners. He reiterated their responsibility in providing dispute resolution services rather than legal counsel.
Mr. Alhassan Iddrissu, an official from CePIL, highlighted that the nation was declared a bauxite-producing country in 2021, with a production capacity of 839.47 tons. Nyinahin, Mpasaaso, Awaso, and Atiwa are identified as key bauxite mining towns. He stressed the necessity for residents to be knowledgeable about emerging human rights issues and the laws regulating the mining sector, such as the Minerals and Mining Amendment Act, 2015 (Act 900), the Minerals and Mining Amendment Act, 2019 (Act 995), the Environmental Protection Agency Act 1993 (Act 490), and the Minerals and Mining (General) Regulations 2012 (LI 2173).
Additionally, Mr. Kwaku Afari, another CePIL official, guided participants through the processes, principles, and procedures related to land acquisition, claims, resettlements, and compensation as outlined in the Compensation and Resettlement (LI 2175).