Community Development Fund…
MARAMPA MINES GOES ROGUE
Residents of Marampa and Maforki have strongly condemned what they described as protocols surrounding the Community Development Fund.
This was made know in a letter by the Marampa Chiefdom Monitoring Rights Group as they bring to the public attention what they described as serious concerns regarding the ongoing mismanagement and lack of transparency in the handling of the Community Development Fund allocated for the benefit of the people of Marampa and Maforki.
That despite the establishment of a Community Development Committee (CDC) by the community to oversee the proper use and distribution of the CDF, there have been persistent issues that have not been addressed.
“The CDC has failed to maintain open communication with the community, and it has frequently reported that Marampa Mining Limited (MML) is not providing them the autonomy required to fulfil their responsibilities effectively,” they said.
They noted that it is deeply troubling that the 1% of the gross sales revenue for the year 2024, which is supposed to have been allocated to the CDF, has not yet been deposited into the CDC account while the 1% which the President handed to the communities in a well-attended ceremony on 29 April 2023 has still not been accounted for.
They said that the fund and the previous ones are crucial for the development and welfare of the community, pointing out that it absence is causing significant distress among the people of Marampa and Maforki.
That as a result of such circumstances, they are compelled to seek legal clarification and action to ensure the safeguard of the community’s rights and interests are safeguarded.
They said that community has a right to understand how their funds are being managed, ensuring that the allocated resources are being used appropriately for the development and benefit of all.
“Transparency and accountability in the management of the CDF are non-negotiable, and we will continue to pursue all necessary measures to secure justice for our people,” they said.