Mining firms must treat host communities as development partners – GJA President

Albert Kwabena Dwumfour, President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), has called upon mining firms to view host communities as development partners instead of barriers. He emphasized that long-lasting mining depends on trust, respect, and ongoing interaction between companies and those impacted by their operations. Dwumfour stated that mining corporations must move beyond merely obtaining legal permits and running public relations drives to forge genuine relationships with the communities affected by their activities.

"Mining companies must therefore recognize that host communities are not obstacles to development; they are partners in development," he affirmed. Dwumfour made these remarks at the National Mining Dialogue 2026 in Accra, under the theme "Rethinking the Social Licence to Operate." He highlighted that communities in mining regions are vital stakeholders whose concerns and interests must be factored into decisions regarding mining operations and local advancement.

Dwumfour stressed that regulatory clearance alone cannot assure community approval of mining activities. "Social licence is not a public relations exercise. It is a relationship that must be built, respected and maintained," he said. The GJA President noted that while mining can bring employment, business opportunities, infrastructure, and other economic gains, it can also impact land, water resources, agriculture, and traditional livelihoods.

Therefore, he argued that the welfare of communities must be integral to the success of mining operations.