A consortium of Ex-students from Australia and the Action
Group on Governance and Environment Management AGGEM a Nongovernmental
Organization based in Bamenda say several minerals have been neglected in the
western highlands of Cameroon specifically in the North West region.
Presenting a
project in Bamenda Tuesday titled “promotion of Multi-stakeholder engagement or
the respect of environment, community engagement, health and safety
requirements in neglected development mineral operations in Western Highlands
of Cameroon.” Sharon Negsang Andigema and Ngang Eric Ndeh Mboumien ,
Chair and Co- Chair of the project told many who should up at the project
research presentation that “neglected development minerals NDM operations are a
contributor to addressing local poverty and achieving sustainable development.
He however added that “effective environment, health, safety and community
engagement must be respected to avoid solving a problem and creating a myriad
of others.
Citing
gravel, sand limestone, clay, sapphires; marble which are currently serving as
a cornerstone to infrastructural development Ngang observed; “The government of
Cameroon has realized the importance of this sector currently characterize by
artisanal, small scale and informal operators is keen on regulating the sector
especially through the passing in law of a business friendly mining code in
December 2016.” In addition he added “Cameroon along counterpart African states
adopted the Africa Mining Vision in 2009 which is the continent wide vision for
using its mineral aim, trough harnessing the potential of artisanal and small
scale mining to encourage local entrepreneurship and enhance socio-economic
development.”
Addressing issues of sustainability and
ethics around the mining of the neglected minerals, Dr Alain Isoh
lecturer ICT University presented a survey on both the formal and informal
actors in the field. According to the survey, the mining of these neglected
development minerals is characterized by lack for ethics with non-respect of
cooperate social responsibility and safety measures outstanding. Dr Isoh who is
also Research personnel AGGEM expressed the need for environmental
consciousness in project
He
recommended ethical mining as a standard way of entrepreneurship around the
world. Several organizations that participated resolved at the close of the
gathering resolved to partner on a platform and engage projects that can better
protect the neglecting minerals in the region.
The board
chairman of AGGEM Mukam Henry encouraged all the stakeholders in the mining of
neglected development minerals to involve women with the appropriate technical
skill insisting that there are several women with expertise that can be very
relevant in the sector.
If properly
harnessed, it is expected that the area can constitute a major revenue source.
"In the NWR for example suggest that, 100 per cent of sand mining is
artisanal in some big rivers like Mezam etc, and it is estimated that over
2,000 people directly involved in the sand dredging. The price of sand varies
according to the quality and weather conditions and distance to the site of
construction. The price varies from FCFA 135,000 to FCFA 175,000 for a 20-ton
truck. During the raining season it can even go up to FCFA 200,000." Ngang
Eric confirms.
This is same
with the quarry sector that is witnessing the coming of mechanised operators.
The price of a 20-ton truck could go up to 140000FCA. The sector currently has
over 1000 artisanal miners and nationally, about 11 companies have been issued
either exploitation or research titles in the NDM sector with many operations in
the sector being illegal this is according to the reports from Ministry of
Mines, Industries and Technological Development (MINMINDT 2016) Foreign
Commonwealth Office (FCO 2013) and the Extractive Industries Initiative
(EITI 2013)."
The project
which focused mainly on the environment, community engagement, health and
safety considerations in and around the operations was a joint effort of
ex-students from Australian University who had benefited from Australian
government scholarships and fellowships under the community of practice on the
focus areas with obligations in the neglected development mineral sector (cop
ecehs).