By Kelvin Obambon
A civil society organization, We The People (WTP) Center For Social Studies And Development, has engaged women in mining host communities in Akpabuyo and Akamkpa local government areas of Cross River State on rights advocacy and legal empowerment.
The town hall meeting held on Thursday July 3, in Mfamosing community, had representatives from five communities impacted by mining activities.
Programmes Officer, Mining and Forestry, WTP, Mr Nsikak Peter Udofot, said the town hall meeting is part of activities in the Strengthening Women In Mining (SWIM) project sponsored by The Fund for Global Human Rights in partnership with Legal Empowerment Fund (LEF) and Grassroots Justice Network (GJN).
The SWIM project seeks to build community power to fight injustice meted out to communities where mining activities are being carried out by companies.
“We rallied women from five communities – Akansoko, Akwa Ikot Effanga, Mfamosing, Abiati and Mbobui, to come together and share their experiences on what they are facing as a result of mining activities in their community,” he said.
Udofot said that the SWIM project is targeted at women because oftentimes they are not carried along, and their interests are not captured whenever agreements between communities and mining companies are made, emphasizing that women also suffer the negative impact mining activities have on the environment, health and livelihoods.
According to him, the overall goal of the project is to empower women in mining host communities to build collective power and address injustice through legal empowerment and community action. With knowledge of relevant laws regulating mining activities, Udofot said, the women would be able to challenge injustice perpetrated by mining companies in their environment.
The Programme Officer hinted that there are multiple engagements to follow after the town hall meeting, including trainings for the women.
“Part of the end game of the trainings and the project overall is to have women as ‘paralegals’ who would be well-grounded on their rights and be able to take up justice issues in their communities related to mining without relying on help from CSOs. We want them to be conversant with the three aspects of legal empowerment: know the law, use the law and shape the law,” he said.
Udofot revealed that, “We The People has received reports on divestment of assets of Lafarge to a Chinese company, Huaxin Cement Company LTD and we are trying to ensure the community isn’t left behind.”
Meanwhile, the women who took turns to share experiences in their various communities, commended Lafarge for some of its good works, including the building of a town hall in Mfamosing, renovation of schools, among others. They however demanded the company to do more since its activities have had adverse effects on their livelihoods and health.
Rev. Rita Henshaw, Women Leader of Akwa Ikot Effanga in Akpabuyo local government area, regretted that their source of drinking water and the air have been polluted as a result of mining.
“Thank you for this SWIM project that has come to empower us with knowledge. Empowerment is not all about money. It’s about knowledge. Knowledge is wealth itself. Now that we have the knowledge we can boldly go to them and tell them this is what we want,” she said.
Hon. Beatrice Ntui, from Mbobui in Akamkpa local government area, lamented that people in her community were not being considered for top jobs in Lafarge, even after their farmlands were badly damaged by the company’s activities. She also decried the harmful impact of excessive dust on their health.
Speaking in same vein, Lady Anthonia Bassey from Mfamosing, said that some of the women lost their farmlands and were given a paltry amount as compensation. She said the action triggered anger in the community that almost led to protest.
Rt. Hon. Angelica Bassey from Abiati, recalled that “right from 2005 this people came until today women have been crying. No one has been able to wipe the tears of the women.” She disclosed that all the people in managerial positions at Lafarge are strangers, while the locals are engaged as labourers.
Cassandra Lenelson from Akansoko, affirmed that women do not benefit anything from the company. “Everything these women are saying is very true. They don’t carry women along.”
The women however thanked WTP for coming up with the town hall meeting, describing it as an eye opener.
