planetGOLD Ghana inaugurates grievance and child protection committee to strengthen accountability in ASGM communities

The planetGOLD Ghana Project has launched a Grievance Redress and Child Protection Committee (GRaCPC) aimed at tightening accountability, transparency and child safeguarding across artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) communities.

Unveiled at Bonsu in the Eastern Region, the committee is designed to provide accessible channels for receiving and resolving complaints from project-affected persons and communities while reinforcing national efforts toward child-labour-free, mercury-free and responsible mining.

Isaac Owusu, Project Safeguards Officer, described the committee as a vital community-based mechanism that will ensure vulnerable groups are better protected.

He emphasised that responsible mining extends beyond production to safeguarding people, communities and the environment. He added that the project operates a single grievance redress mechanism structured across four tiers: community, district, regional and national.

Owusu thanked partners and community representatives for their support, noting that the strengthened system could serve as a model for responsible and inclusive mining across Ghana.

Justine Seyire Dzadzra, Technical Officer for planetGOLD Ghana, highlighted the project’s core objectives. She noted that although the ASGM sector significantly contributes to Ghana’s economy, it also accounts for nearly 80 per cent of the mercury used nationwide.

The project, she said, is advancing the sector’s formalisation, improving access to finance and promoting mercury-free technologies that protect both miners and surrounding communities. She also urged miners to prioritise health and sustainability, adding that other interventions are supporting alternative livelihood options.

Members of the newly inaugurated GRaCPC include representatives from mining-affected communities, the Minerals Commission, Environmental Protection Agency, Water Resources Commission, Department of Social Welfare and civil society organisations such as A Rocha Ghana.

Their mandate covers transparent complaint handling, impartial investigations, monitoring of potential child-labour cases and promoting safe mining environments.

During a community engagement at Ekorso in the Atiwa Mining District, the planetGOLD Ghana team introduced the committee to residents in a meeting hosted by the Queen Mother of Ekorso.

She commended the initiative and encouraged the committee to resolve disputes with patience and respect, stressing the importance of working closely with traditional leaders.

Funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), executed by UNDP and UNIDO, and implemented by the Environmental Protection Agency, the planetGOLD Ghana Project continues its mission to promote mercury-free technologies, expand financial access and strengthen responsible gold supply chains within the ASGM sector.