Advocates Redesign

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  • SK Fellowship is a transformative experience – Benedicta Naa Odarkor Lamptey

    The Sora Kaufman Fellowship is undoubtedly making positive impacts on the lives of the first six beneficiaries as it continues to establish a network of Africa leaders and practitioners in the field of community-driven development and advocacy.

    The Fellowship is a flagship program of Advocates for Community Alternatives (ACA), an Accra-based NGO operating in Ghana and other African countries.

    “It’s been enriching and a transformative experience” Benedicta Naa Odarkor Lamptey, one of the fellows noted as she was reflecting on her journey with the Sora Kaufman Fellowship.

    “What started as a professional development opportunity quickly became a journey of personal growth, fostering valuable lessons, forging deep bonds, and laying the foundation for a future built on impactful leadership”, she added.

    Please find Benedicta’s personal accounts of her stings with the SK Fellowship program below:

    One of the most profound lessons I learnt during this fellowship was the importance of empowering communities to champion their own development – a model of development that encapsulates what endogenous development theories advocate for. Prior to this training, I had always understood the concept of development in a top-down manner approach, where decisions are often made by experts at the top, without necessarily considering the input or the needs of the community at the bottom/down. However, through this fellowship, I was introduced to the power of effectively involving communities at the grassroots level in identifying and solving their challenges, through participatory engagement approach (PEA), thereby making the communities to own the solutions to their challenges/problems and confronting them.

    The learning sessions and the field activities like the community visits to Dadetsunya and Ahinkwa Sisi where ACA’s projects are underway and the two-day community stay at Addo Nkwanta showcased how communities, when empowered with the right knowledge and tools, can drive sustainable solutions that are rooted in their cultural aspirations, culture, needs, and available resources. This shifted my perspective on development and showed me how essential it is to build solutions that are not only effective but also community centered.

    One of the most impactful aspects of the fellowship was the opportunity to develop leadership skills. The various leadership training sessions, both in the classroom and our time with Captain (Rtd) Prince Kofi Amoabeng, forced me to examine my approach to leadership. I discovered the value of active listening, empathy, and collaboration. I also learnt that leadership is not just about directing or instructing others but about inspiring and empowering them. During the training session with Captain Amoabeng, I learnt that leadership requires self-discipline. By working alongside passionate peers who brought their unique perspectives, I was constantly challenged to grow in my thinking, and in turn, this experience allowed me to reflect on my own values and how I can lead with integrity, humility, and purpose. 

    The fellowship also provided me with the unique opportunity to forge strong bonds with fellow participants. I was ushered into a cohort of other fellows like Solomon, Comfort, Margaret, Martin and Eric. We came from diverse backgrounds, yet we shared a collective vision of making a positive impact on our respective communities, culminating in the formation of an unspoken connection built on mutual respect and shared aspirations. We supported one another and celebrated each other’s successes, (reflecting on Martin’s success story). These relationships will continue to be a source of strength and inspiration as I navigate the path ahead. The fellowship created a community within itself—one that encouraged openness, growth, and collaboration.

    In terms of impact, the knowledge and skills I have acquired since I joined this fellowship continue to influence my work in significant ways. For instance, in my current role as a Project Lead for Community and Family Aid Foundation, I am now equipped with tools that allow me to engage communities more effectively, ensuring that the people we serve have a voice in shaping solutions that directly affect them. Whether it’s designing programs, drafting policies, or executing projects, I now have the confidence and understanding to approach challenges in a more inclusive and sustainable manner. The emphasis on community-driven development will guide my efforts in fostering collaboration between stakeholders, ensuring that the solutions we create are both relevant and lasting.

    Looking toward future roles, the lessons I have learnt will shape my approach to leadership. As I progress in my career, I plan to implement a more participatory style of leadership, where I encourage the people, I work to contribute ideas and solutions rather than simply executing directives. I will also advocate for community-driven models in any new projects, understanding that true sustainable development can only occur when the community is at the heart of the process.

    The Sora Kaufman Fellowship has not only equipped me with invaluable skills but has inspired me to lead with greater empathy, foresight, and integrity.

  • Sora Kaufman Fellowship has inspired me a lot – Rasheed Musah

    Martin Rasheed Musah, a pioneering member of the Sora Kaufman Fellowship Program, has been sharing his experiences since he joined the program in October 2024.

    Rasheed Musah, who is based in Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region of Ghana and works with CommunityAID Integrated Ghana, says his association with SK Fellowship has provided a unique opportunity for him as an aspiring development practitioners based on the broad composition of activities designed to enhance his understanding and capacity for utilizing the CDD approaches to community development.

    Below is Rasheed Musah’s personal account of how he has been impacted by the SK Fellowship Program.

    I will categorize my experiences in two forms – personal and professional growth.

    The SK fellowship training was a platform that enhanced my know-how in the CDD approach based on its similarity to Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) with additional knowledge from the training. Carefully studying its implementation approach revealed that it ensures mutual partnership (formal and informal) between the community and ACA before the implementation of a community project, this establishes a contract among parties. In this regard, it enhances participation, accountability, transparency, and project ownership by community beneficiaries.

    Presentations on various professional topics related to community development had an impact on my capacity ensuring I learned more about the current trends in global development work. The presentations were more interactive and professional, allowing for rapid bonding among colleagues, staff of ACA, and facilitators.

    The two-day community stay activity during our in-house training session was a very impactful experience. It was an opportunity to have firsthand experience of projects implemented using the CDD methodology. The intrinsic observation was the power of communication among stakeholders; thus, stakeholder engagements were collaborative and mutual thereby the adverse effect being a smooth project implementation. The community enhances its community leadership system by using the CDD approach this was observed.

    Nonetheless, part of my experience was a wake-up call to more work yet to be done, a careful observation coupled with interactions with community members revealed challenges requiring collective action to mitigate them including low enrolment of young girls in the community in schools. Interestingly and not surprising is the high rate of teen mothers, hence, teenage pregnancies in the Addo-Nkwanta community. Additionally, there is a need to increase opportunities for women’s participation in the developmental affairs of the community despite the subtle involvement observed during our stay.

    It is important to highlight the moments with our host families such are unforgettable and indelible in my life. The food, care, and concern from both host family members, and community members’ reception is one of the unique experiences compared to the numerous others. I established a bond within 48 hours of my stay in Addo-Nkwanta admittedly the beautiful people we encounter in the line of work have been my motivation for being in development work.

    Cumulatively, my experiences have affected my knowledge base with a positive impact. First, I will consider the CDD methodology a vital tool in my line of practice or work. To ensure this workout, intensive community stakeholder engagements play a significant role in project implementation. Establishing a mutual formal partnership by way of a contract with the community will ensure effective and efficient project implementation as well as leverage available resources within and externally.

    In a nutshell, I can’t conclude without acknowledging the network I have established throughout the in-house stay. In a twinkle of a while I got to build a network (may I say “community”) of practitioners with healthy bonds personally and professionally. I am humbly honored to be part of this great opportunity to be a fellow, especially among the first cohort and look forward to being a continued part of this program.

    Thank you

    Martin Rasheed Musah

     

     

  • Bosuso soap making factory poised for economic turn-around

    Residents of Bosuso in the Fanteakwa South District are on course to realizing their dream of providing employment opportunities for themselves, ⁠increase individual daily savings and ⁠improve daily square meals among households by at least 10% in one year.

    This follows the successful completion of their black soap production factory constructed in partnership with the Fanteakwa South District Assembly in the Eastern Region and Advocates for Community Alternatives (ACA), a non-governmental organization, which helps West African communities that are threatened by the destructive impacts of extractive projects to take control of their futures.

    By way of creating sustainable livelihood opportunities for themselves the Bosuso community took advantage of a $9,000 microgrant by ACA under its Facilitated Collective Action Process (FCAP) implemented in partnership with the district assembly. 

    To fully operate the factory and improve their living standards, some community members have undergone training on black soap production to quip them with the requisite skills to kick-start production as early as possible.

    KAEME, a premium Ghanaian company specializing in personal care products such as shea soufflé, liquid black soap, among others, facilitated the training program for the participants at the newly built soap factory.

    Freda Obeng-Ampofo, the Founder and Chief Mixer of Kaeme introduced the participants to the various aspects of black soap production.

    From all indications, the Bosuso community is mor than ready for the smooth take off of the project as the people have acquired required items and the basic ingredients for black soap production. 

    “This is very dear to our hearts and we’re extremely excited to venture into such a monumental project which has the potential to turn our socio-economic fortunes around in future and so we’re leaving no stone unturned to make things work for our own good”, said Mr. Maxwell Owusu Bannerman, a Community Member.

  • Freetown hosts conference on African-focused climate, environmental and natural resources rights and protection

    Members of the Public Interest Lawyering Initiative for West Africa (PILIWA), a regional movement of lawyers driven by social justice to serve threatened communities, have rounded up their conference in Freetown, Sierra Leone.

    It was a collaborative conference for PILIWA, Environmental Rights Africa (ERA), Africa Climate Platform (ACP) and Mano River Union Civil Society Platform (MRUCP) to share updates on their activities and explore further ways of supporting each other.

    Exchange of contextual experiences, legal advocacy, strategic planning and enhancing regional collaboration and collective advocacy for environmental justice were some of the key issues that took center stage during the conference.

    Among others, the conference called for strengthening regional networks and collaboration by formalizing and expanding the collaborative networks.

    The conference emphasized the strengthening of PILIWA as a regional hub for public interest lawyers to coordinate on environmental cases while the Mano River Union Civil Society Platform on Natural Resources should be enhanced to step up cross-border advocacy.

    It further called for the establishment of regular communication channels through focal persons (monthly calls, online forums) and annual meet-ups to sustain the momentum in view of the fact that through the sharing of information and tactics in real time, activists could respond faster and more effectively to emerging environmental threats.

    The conference provided PILIWA an opportunity to share its experiences in the West African sub-region about some successes and challenges over the years, especially on access to information and enforcement of judicial decisions.

    These experiences were well received as participants considered them very relevant to their respective organisations and therefore had further deliberations regarding them.

    Participants also focused their attention on protecting environmental defenders and resolved to develop and implement measures to protect them and other activists who face risks due to their work.

    The conference therefore recommended that African governments, in partnership with civil society, should establish protocols or focal points for defender protection – such as emergency contact networks or rapid response units to investigate and address threats or abuses against activists.

    The conference also called for the establishment of solidarity networks, where defenders in different regions support each other’s safety through visibility and advocacy, should be nurtured.

    Touching on capacity building, the conference emphasized the need to invest in continuous capacity building for those working on environmental rights. This includes training more community paralegals and public Interest lawyers at the grassroots to empower local communities with legal knowledge. Workshops and exchange programs for lawyers and NGO staff should be organized, covering topics like environmental law litigation techniques, scientific evidence collection, and negotiation skills.

    Participants further recommended the creation of mentorship programs where seasoned public interest attorneys can guide younger lawyers in developing strategic cases.

    Another area of concern to the participants was community engagement and public awareness. Here, they stressed the need to enhance efforts in community engagement and raising public awareness on environmental rights.

    They emphasized the need to amplify environmental education at the community level— through local workshops that explain rights in local languages and through school programs that teach youth about conservation and climate change.

    The participants called on NGOs and community groups to employ creative media (community radio, theater, storytelling) to make complex issues understandable and relatable.

    On the promotion of corporate accountability mechanisms, participants encouraged the adoption of robust corporate accountability mechanisms and proposed to African states to tighten environmental regulations—for instance, by requiring companies to post reclamation bonds for mining (so funds are available for cleanup), and by increasing fines or penalties for violations to truly deter harmful practices.

    The conference encouraged civil society to advocate for governments to sign on to international initiatives for openness in oil, gas, and mining revenues, and to support the development of a binding international treaty on business and human rights.

    A further recommendation by the conference is the setting up of independent monitoring bodies, possibly with civil society participation, that can conduct audits of corporate environmental performance. Meanwhile, NGOs can make use of existing tools like the OECD complaint procedure or bring cases to international platforms when local remedies fail; building expertise in these processes is advised. Naming and shaming through public campaigns remains a powerful tool—creating “scorecards” or reports ranking companies on environmental criteria can pressure them to improve.

    Some of the key outcomes of the conference centered on Natural Resource Governance as participants underscored the critical need for transparent, accountable management of natural resources and advocated robust legal frameworks that guarantee community participation and equitable benefit sharing.

    On legal advocacy and litigation, the conference agreed to develop and disseminate legal toolkits for public interest litigation as a way of empowering communities to hold both state and corporate actors accountable for environmental degradation and human rights abuses.

    Participants further resolved to form a coalition to monitor and report environmental abuse by multinational corporations, ensuring that companies are held to internationally recognized standards and face appropriate legal consequences to ensure corporate accountability.

    They also reiterated that climate justice is not merely a legal issue but a moral imperative and endorsed the formulation of a comprehensive policy package, which includes lobbying for increased climate finance, enhancing adaptation strategies, and ensuring that the principles of equity and justice guide all climate-related policymaking.

    The Legal Clinic team of the Caleb University, as part of the conference, presented a gift to ACA for its immense support in setting up the clinic. ACA’s Executive Director, Jonathan Kaufman, received the gift on behalf of the organization.

  • Enrolment significantly increases following renovation works on Saamang R/C school

    The Saamang local Roman Catholic Basic School in the Fanteakwa South District of the Eastern region of Ghana this year enrolled 85 new pupils, pushing its total enrolment figure from 150 to 235 and making it the second largest primary school in the area.

    This significant increase of 56.6% of student population follows the completion of renovation works on the school last year.

    Pupils and teachers of the kindergarten and the primary sections could not hide their joy when they were ushered into their newly renovated classroom block at the beginning of the academic year.

    The headmaster of the school, Mr. Samuel Abrokwa, said in an interview that the facelift given to the school has undoubtedly impacted positively on the academic fortunes of the school and commended the Fanteakwa South District Assembly and ACA for coming to their aid.

    “We are so happy to be learning under such a conducive environment and this would undoubtedly enhance teaching and learning in the school”, one of the pupils said after her first day in the renovated building.

    Renovation works on the school were carried out last year under the Facilitated Collective Action Process (FCAP), a partnership between the district assembly and Advocates for Community Alternatives (ACA), a non-governmental organization, which helps West African communities that are threatened by the destructive impacts of extractive projects to take control of their futures.

    Following the completion of the project, the school is now providing convenient teaching and learning environment for the kindergarten and the primary sections of the school and ultimately contribute to the overall improvement in educational standards in the district.

    /By the end of this academic year, the dropout rate is to decline by 5%. It is also anticipated that the completion of this project will, in the long-term, reduce the cost of education for pupils in Saamang by 15%.

    In an interview, the Assembly member for the Saamang Electoral Area, Desmond Ofori Abrokwa, said the state of the school block prior to the start of the renovation works was deplorable and adversely affected enrolment as well as effective teaching and learning.

    “As I speak to you, our kids have a conducive environment to go about their studies. Also, teachers are happy to give their best. The looks on their faces tell it all”, he said.

  • Sagyemase wins Best CHPS Compound award in Abuakwa South

    In less than a year of operations, the Sagyemase CHPS Compound has been adjudged the Overall Best CHPS Compound in the Abuakwa South Municipality, beating about eight other primary health care facilities.

    “Through your exceptional services, you have set a benchmark for excellence in community health, inspiring others to follow in your footsteps. Your efforts have not only improved health outcomes but also fostered a sense of trust and partnership within the community you serve,” a citation presented to the Sagyemase CHPS Compound partly read.

    This was at the 2024 annual awards ceremony held at Kyebi and organized by the Abuakwa South Municipal Directorate of the Ghana Health Services.

    Advocates for Community Alternatives (ACA), an Accra-based non-governmental organization, partnered with the Sagyemase community and funded the CHPS Compound with a $ 9,000 microgrant in line with its Facilitated Collective Action Process (FCAP).

    Ahead of the implementation of the project, the community identified many challenges confronting them but settled on a clinic with the aim of increasing people’s access to malaria treatment by at least 10% after one year of operations.

    Th good news is that over 300 patients accessed malaria treatment at the facility during the period. This figure represents a 12% increase in this regard as against the community’s earlier projection of 10% increase.

    It is also on record that out of the over 50 expectant mothers who attended antenatal services in the clinic last year, 48 successfully delivered without challenges and same number of babies survived all through to post-natal services, reducing the infant mortality rate by 15%. Also, access to health education went up by over 10% in the same period. This is because residents of Sagyemase and other surrounding communities are now able to walk freely to the CHPS Compound for health education purposes.

    This feat by the Sagyemase CHPS Compound exemplifies the pronounced impact of ACA in its partner communities in the Eastern and the Bono East Regions of Ghana.

  • Community-Based Facilitators undergo training on FCAP implementation process

    Community-Based Facilitators (CBFs) from 45 communities and selected local government staff in Abuakwa South, Fanteakwa South, Atiwa West, and Nkoranza South have rounded up a week-long training programme on the Facilitated Community Action Process (FCAP), a community-driven development tool.

    Advocates for Community Alternatives (ACA), a non-governmental organization operating in Ghana and other African countries, organized the training to equip participants with the requisite skills in procurement methods, implementation action planning and budgeting, risk and mitigation strategies, and community engagement plans.

    These areas are crucial in ensuring transparency, efficiency, and sustainability in local development initiatives.

    Through interactive sessions and practical exercises, participants gained valuable insights into effective community engagements, project risk management, and accountable implementation strategies. The training also fostered collaboration between local government staff and community facilitators, strengthening participatory governance at the grassroots level.

    Following the planning process of the FCAP methodology, each community will receive $8,000 to support the implementation of their community-led development initiatives. This financial support will be complemented by community contributions, either in cash or in kind, ensuring shared ownership and sustainability of the projects.

    Communities will use these resources to develop action plans for projects such as CHPS compounds, teachers’ quarters, classroom blocks, boreholes, grinding mills, gari processing centers and bridges, among other community-driven projects.

    To enhance the success of these projects, communities will also benefit from technical advice from experienced professionals with expertise in their respective areas of development. This mentorship will help ensure the effective execution and long-term impact of their initiatives.

    Project execution and completion are expected within six months after community microgrant agreements are signed with the 45 participating communities. This timeline ensures that the development initiatives are implemented efficiently and that communities can quickly benefit from the improved infrastructure and services.

    Speaking at the training, Nana Ama Nketia-Quaidoo, ACA’s Director of Community-Driven Development (CDD) Department, emphasized the importance of inclusive planning and local leadership in ensuring development interventions aligning with community needs.

    “ACA remains dedicated to empowering local actors to champion development, accountability, and citizen participation. This initiative is expected to strengthen collaboration between communities and local government authorities, ultimately leading to more inclusive and impactful governance”, she also said.

    Participants expressed their commitment to applying the knowledge gained to drive meaningful changes in their respective districts.

    Credit: So Aba Boateng, Nkoranza

  • My community development experience with ACA – Francis Manu shares his experiences with ACA

    As the year ends, we celebrate one of our dedicated Senior Trainers, Francis Fernaldinho Manu. In this write up, Francis shares his experiences with the organisation since he joined the ACA family in July 2020 vis-a-vis his efforts at empowering young girls at Donkro Nkwanta, his hometown, through his annual beauty pageant “Miss Nkwanta.”

    It has always been my passion to see smiles on the faces of people I encounter, especially if I, in a way, contribute to improve their living conditions.  In fact, I become even more elated to be a part of any positive impact made on human life and so I have always wanted to fend not for myself alone but for the people around me as well. From my days as a footballer to my current place of work, I have always been ready to defend the lives of the under-privileged.

    Journey to ACA

    The drama surrounding my recruitment process has been an unforgettable moment. I still recall sending my application documents at 10:37pm on the deadline day, which, in my view, made me the very last person to do so. Barely a month after the submission of my application, a call came through, informing me that I had been shortlisted for an interview on the next Monday.

    Oh my God, the energy in me rose to 80% because I knew I was going to put up my all to land this job and so I spent the few days left for the interview to prepare feverishly.

    I was quite nervous on the day of the interview since I had no idea how it was going to go and was glued to my phone waiting to hear from my interviewers. My body temperature started going up when I lost the network on my phone at the time I was anxiously waiting for ACA’s call for the interview to begin on the phone. At this point, I started sweating and murmuring, and didn’t know what to do.

    At long last, the network finally came back at about 1:30pm and about two and half hours later, the interview finally came off. It was not as intimidating as I had envisaged. My interviewers wanted to hear about my motivations and what had drawn me to make an impact in society.  Having been a teacher before and drawing from my MISS NKWANTA BEAUTY PAGEANT experiences over the years, where I have been empowering young women to be self-confident to make an impact in Nkoranza South, I had much to share with the panel.

    I left the interview feeling more excited than ever, though unsure if I would be considered for the job. A month after, an email popped up from the Community Driven Development Director and it read, “Dear Francis, you have been hired! Honestly, I cannot find the right words to describe the moment. “Wow, finally, I got it!!!”  I remember exactly my first words as I screamed. I was so happy and could not wait to join my dream job.

    Early days in ACA

    My journey in ACA has been fulfilling. From the first day I stepped in the Accra office to meet the Executive Director and the entire team I realized I was introduced into a family that is passionate about human rights and community development rather than a normal working environment. I told myself; I have a lot to learn. “Welcome to ACA, Francis!” This was how Jonathan welcomed me to ACA, and it still echoes in my mind. The entire team was very receptive to me, and I really felt at home as I hit the road running as a Community Trainer.

    Little did I know that I was going to work directly under Mr. Nimako, who was one of the primary school teachers. Mr. Nimako and my hard working and committed Director of CDD, Nana Ama, ensured that I became well versed in my area of work, a situation which helped me to settle quite easily

    Life at Osino

    My duty station has been in Osino since I joined ACA, and my core duties from the beginning were to mobilize and facilitate community meetings to help them achieve a development vision and help draw these communities closer to the local government. I was also tasked to assist our legal team in their quest to fight for equal rights for all our partner communities. I have been meeting chiefs and community leaders, having community wide meetings, meeting Municipal and District Chief Executives, local government staff and other government officials including sitting in some strategic meetings. Currently as a Senior Trainer, I train Trainers and Community Based Facilitators as well as supervise several communities implementing the Facilitated Collective Action Process (FCAP). The joy at work has gone up with the addition of more Trainers who share the same passion with me.

    Encouragements

    I am encouraged by the compliments by some of my community members. “Whenever I see you, I am reminded to do something to impact my community.”  These are the words of some of my community members which really motivate me to always give my best. With the coming on board of George Mpoah, a colleague who is more than a brother, we have been stepping up our efforts at assisting our partner communities to chart a development path in line with the medium-term development plan of their local assembly.

    Looking back, I feel fulfilled to be a part of a project and a process that resulted in bringing some visible improvements in the lives of people. Despite the challenges faced with community work, my impact has seen several communities developed in diverse ways with better health facilities, schools, good drinking water, and some improving their livelihoods in soap making projects and many more. Also, assisting our legal team get better compensation for abused farmers is something that will remain with me forever.

    With ACA, I’ve grown both personally and professionally in ways I never imagined. While I keep learning and drawing from experiences, I look forward to making greater impacts in communities in the coming years with this organization.

    Honestly, the lessons I’ve learned are invaluable, and the sense of purpose I feel every day is something I wouldn’t trade for anything. If there’s one thing that stands out to me from this journey, it’s that advocacy work isn’t just a job- it’s a calling.

    I wish all ACA staff a prosperous New Year!

  • Kono residents unperturbed about adjournments by Sierra Leone’s Court of Appeal

    Members of the Marginalized Affected Property Owners Association (MAPO), a civil society group based in Kono in the Eastern Region of Sierra Leone, say they are unperturbed about the frequent adjournments of their case pending at the Court of Appeal in Freetown and have vowed to relentlessly pursue their case despite the frustrations.

    “Even if they ask us to come here a hundred times, we shall come. We’re determined to fight for our rights and to seek justice through the legal process. Even though we’re not happy about the continuous dragging of our case at the courts, we are not intimidated by any attempts to frustrate us”, they said after Sierra Leone’s Court of Appeal again adjourned their case to November 14, 2025.

    Last Thursday, the Court of Appeal again adjourned hearing Kono community’s human rights claims, which seek to determine whether the community members can legally take on a multinational diamond mining company for causing harm to their livelihoods, health, and their traditional lands.

    The community members and their partners left the court premises disappointed and helpless but remained resolute in their bid to relentlessly fight for their rights in a case which has dragged on for five years amidst several court adjournments. One of the three-member panel of judges, Hon. Justice Emily Wright, was unavailable, leading to the latest adjournment.

    The matter is adjourned to Thursday 14th November 2024. Counsels for the two parties agreed before the Hon. Justice Reginald Fynn (JA) and the Hon. Justice Sulaiman Bah (JA), in Chambers, that if for any reason the matter is unable to proceed, the Defence Counsel will file written submission while the Counsel for the Appellant will file a written reply to his submission. Under this arrangement, the matter will then be withdrawn for ruling, meaning no further hearings after the 14th of November 2024.

    “We keep travelling all the way from Koidu, and other parts of Kono to Freetown, a 12-hour return trip any time the Court decides to sit on our case. We keep coming in our numbers to court and they also keep adjourning our case, but I can assure everyone that we are never going to retreat or surrender, but rather, we’re going to soldier on despite the adjournments”, Mr. Prince Boima, the MAPO Chairman, said after the court announced yet another adjournment on Thursday.

    The Lead Counsel for the plaintiffs, Dr. Chernor Mamoud Benedict Jalloh urged the justice system to ensure that justice is delivered in a timely manner in this matter because “justice delayed is justice denied to all parties in this litigation.”

    The hearing of the Koidu community’s human rights became possible after a ruling on Thursday February 29, 2024, that struck out preliminary objections filed by the defendant mining company, Koidu Limited.

    The Appeals Court’s ruling last February brought a new life into the Koidu plaintiffs’ case, which was dismissed by the High Court in Makeni on 27th October 2022, on the basis that the plaintiffs were not qualified to press their claims in court.  The dismissal order also ruled that the plaintiffs should have used a non-judicial grievance mechanism before going to court, despite also recognizing that the grievance mechanism did not actually exist.

    Brief background

    Koidu Limited is a diamond mining company that operates in Sierra Leone and is privately owned by BSG Resources Limited (BSGR) through its subsidiary, Octéa Limited. The company is accused of degrading the living conditions of people living near its mining operations and failing to properly relocate them or compensate them for their losses.

    Residents who have not been relocated find it increasingly difficult to farm because waste rock and rubble from Koidu Ltd.’s operations have covered much of their farmland. “Koidu Limited has destroyed our lives,” said Mr. Prince Boima, Chairman of the Marginalized Affected Property Owners Association. “We used to farm and live in peace, but now our lands and water sources are poisoned and covered in rubble. Our homes are shaken by explosives every day.”

    Residents also report that their health has suffered. Dust from the mining operations often covers the community and causes headaches, difficulty breathing, and a burning sensation in the

    Residents’ eyes. The operations have also contaminated the water, and many residents develop skin rashes and digestive problems they did not previously experience. High stress from living with frequent blasting further causes headaches, high blood pressure, heart palpitations, and respiratory problems in the community.

    Despite promising to properly relocate affected community members in advance of expanding its mining operations, Koidu Ltd. has left the people to suffer.  Many community members have neither been relocated, nor compensated for the damage to their properties, health, and livelihoods.  Others have been relocated to a new area, but the conditions of relocation have been incommensurate with what they lost.

    The community is supported in its fight for justice by Advocates for Community Alternatives (ACA), a Ghana-based human rights organization, and Network Movement for Justice and Development (NMJD), a Sierra Leonean civil society organization that organizes communities for a more just society in the face of natural resource extraction.

  • FCAP implementation underway in ten communities in Nkoranza South

    Ten communities in the Nkoranza South Municipality are on their way to taking control of their own development path, having received the requisite training and tools to realize their vision of the future.

    This is in line with a partnership between Advocates for Community Alternative (ACA), a non-profit-making organization, and the Nkoranza South Municipal Assembly to implement the Facilitated Collective Action Process (FCAP) in these communities. It follows the successful piloting of the FCAP in Donkro Nkwanta, Nwoase, Kyeradeso and Salamkrom – all in Nkoranza South.

    The additional communities, which include Kyekyewere, Akuma, Barnufour, Brahoho, Abuontem, Asuano, Nkwabeng, Bonsu, Akumsa Domase, and Bredi No 1, have successfully completed the planning phase of FCAP, which is also called Oman yie die in Ghana. Each of them has also developed a shared community vision and goals which enabled them to collectively identify projects that fall within the municipal assembly medium term development plans.

    Projects

    Some of the projects being implemented in the Nkoranza South under FCAP include the construction of a Junior High School block at Asuano, an Out-Patient Department (OPD) block for the Nkwabeng Clinic, as well as a social center project at Abuontem, Akuma, Brahoho and Akumsa Domase. Bredi Number One and Bonsu communities are expanding access to potable water while Barnufour and Kyekyewere communities are putting up Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) compounds.

    To enable the communities, execute their projects efficiently and effectively, they were facilitated to develop a project implementation action plan and budget. The implementation action plan and budget clearly outline the timelines and budget lines for the implementation of their projects.

    ACA’s CDD program

    ACA’s community-driven development program revolves around two key elements.  The first element, FCAP, encourages communities to create a common development vision and equips them with skills and financial resources – including a USD 9,000 microgrant – to pursue it.

    ACA has sponsored CDD projects in Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone.  Our FCAP work has helped communities build key infrastructure, including clinics and community centers, and jumpstart collective enterprises, such as rice farms and black soap manufacturing.

    The second element, Citizens’ Committee Network (CiCoNet), is ACA’s answer to the threat that our partner communities face from powerful economic interests.  Whereas FCAP gives communities hope for a better economic future, CiCoNet is an interface group of concerned citizens who help protect the communities’ development vision.  CiCoNet members are trained to speak with government officials and other stakeholders on behalf of their communities, raising concerns in ways that allow local authorities to help resolve key community concerns.

    Credit: So Abapa Boateng, CDD Community Trainer in Nkoranza South Municipality, Bono East Region of Ghana