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The Human Right to Water pp 105–123Cite as

Policy Paradoxes and Women’s Right to Water in Mining Areas of Ghana

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Abstract

The human right to water of women has been considered as being of special importance. Not only do women need water for themselves but as domestic water managers also stand responsible for fulfilling the water-related needs of other household members. But are women able to enjoy their right in all circumstances? How does the industrial activity of mining undermine their right? This chapter explores the situation in Ghana, one of the leading gold-mining countries in Africa, attempting to analyze the contradictions between the policies supporting mining on the one hand and that on community-based rural water supply on the other. Using empirical evidence from local mining communities in Ghana, it examines how close are these two policy frameworks in terms of principles, approach, institutions and processes, aiming to identify the gaps and propose solutions so that Ghanaian women’s right to water can be secured.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Ghana has adopted a decentralization program that is aimed at allowing decisions affecting communities to be taken at the lowest appropriate level. Under the Local Government Act 1993, district assemblies are the highest political and administrative authorities in the district that are responsible for promoting productive activity and social development in their districts. They are also responsible for the development, the improvement and the management of human settlements and the environment in their districts. The lowest political authority in the district is the unit committee that is responsible for mobilizing communities for the implementation of self-help and development projects, CWSP being one of these.

  2. 2.

    CSR is an important tenet under the mining policy. The Ghana Chamber of Mines – the coordinating body for mining companies – has fully embraced the principle by promoting the building of capacity for sustainable livelihood in communities where mining companies operate.

  3. 3.

    Galamsey is a locally derived word from the phrase ‘gather them and sell’. This activity is very popular with small-scale/artisanal mining in Ghana.

  4. 4.

    These categories were water pollution, land degradation, mining-related diseases, displacement from farmlands, natives denied employment and others.

  5. 5.

    The impact of galamsey activities on portable water supplies was also admitted by EPA during the present study.

  6. 6.

    Among the few studies known is SAPRIN (2002).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Sustainable Development, Environmental Science and Engineering (SEED), Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), Stockholm, Sweden

    Nandita Singh

  2. Department of Sustainable Development, Environmental Science and Engineering, Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), Stockholm, Sweden

    Berit Balfors

  3. Department of Environment and Development Studies, Central University College, Accra, Ghana

    John E. Koku

Authors
  1. Nandita Singh
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  2. Berit Balfors
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  3. John E. Koku
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Correspondence to Nandita Singh .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Sustainable Development Environmental Science and Engineering (SEED), Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), Stockholm, Sweden

    Nandita Singh

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Singh, N., Balfors, B., Koku, J.E. (2016). Policy Paradoxes and Women’s Right to Water in Mining Areas of Ghana. In: Singh, N. (eds) The Human Right to Water. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-40286-4_6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-40286-4_6

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