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Case Study: Ghana
This is exactly what happened in rural Ghana when the
Endeavour Mining Company sought to extract the gold
ore located at Nzema. Given the geology of the region,
the most efficient means of extraction was deemed
to be open-cast mining, which would be hazardous to
those living in the nearby Salman village.
Negotiations for resettlement were integral to mining
approval and were conducted over a two-year period,
beginning in 2008 and culminating in the signing of the
Resettlement Agreement in May 2010 and a subsequent
Memorandum of Understanding in October 2010.
These documents, in addition to the Resettlement Action
Plan, became the blueprint for the resettlement of the new
Salman township, which involved resettling 2 200 people
at a new 250-acre site a kilometre from the mine.
Endeavour elected to use Hydraform brick technology
because the building blocks are cooler and stronger than
more commonly used cement blocks. In addition, as the
purchase price of the block-making equipment includes
training, locals were instructed in the process of brick-
making as well as in maintenance of the block-making
equipment, thereby helping to create a sustainable local
industry. Naturally, the equipment was donated to the
community after the construction project was completed.
Resettling a
community
Opencast mining can be hazardous to people living
in the vicinity and since the minerals can’t be moved
before extraction, the people must be resettled.
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