AngloGold Ashanti: Land grabbing

This report is part of our former “Harmful Cases” documentation, where we continuously and concisely recorded human rights violations, violations of international law or environmental destruction caused by companies.

Human Rights Violations in Ghana

In 2009, the mining company tried to expel locals from their villages by intimidating them in order to expand its rock waste dump. James Sarpong, however, remained determined and did not leave his village. On June 19, 2009, AngloGold Ashanti took court action in Sekondi-Takoradi to seek an eviction order for James Sarpong, which the high court presided by judge Anthony Oppong granted. On June 25, 2009, services of security agencies on behalf of AngloGold Ashanti, destroyed the village and retained all of James Sarpong’s properties.

The Teberebie Concerned Farmers Association filed a suit at the high court in Tarkwa to claim adequate compensation, compliant with the 1992 Constitution of Ghana and the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006, Act 703. Nevertheless, the act was ignored with the justification that it is a precondition for a mineral owner to have access to individual’s properties and land in order to undertake mining operations.

More information on this case:
WACAM press release