65 Guri, Banuoko, Derbile, Hiemstra and Verschuuren
Photo: Natural Justice
128
A ‘rich picture’ in which Bernard Guri of CIKOD explains how the biocultural community protocol is expected to
contribute to sustainable community well-being.
holders. To address this challenge, CIKOD
has introduced the concept of stakeholder
platforms. As part of the BCP development
process, research is being carried out by the
University for Development Studies to
identify the various stakeholders and their
interests in gold mining in the community
and to promote dialogue for acceptance of
the demands in the BCP. This, it is hoped,
will increase the credibility of the BCP and
encourage stakeholder compliance with
the demands in the BCP, even though the
BCP is not legally binding.
Despite these challenges, the community has undoubtedly developed confidence
and skills as a result of developing the BCP,
but it is unclear if in future they will be fully
able to negotiate on their own with a BCP
document without external support.
Although BCPs do not yet have legal recognition in Ghana, they can still be powerful
negotiating tools if they are recognised by
all the relevant stakeholders.
Ways forward
The postponement of gold mining to 2013
gives time for CIKOD and the communi-
ties to finalise the Tanchara BCP. Other
potentially affected communities in northern Ghana will also be able develop BCPs
much more easily and quickly as relevant
laws and bylaws will already have been
clarified. These communities will also need
a community development process.
CIKOD is already using the same BCP tool
to defend the rights of female sheanut pickers in their dealings with commercial
buyers. It will build on the lessons learnt in
the Tanchara BCP process.
From November 2011–September
2012, a new action research programme
around BCP work in Ghana and Kenya will
apply specific methodologies and tools for
analysing power dynamics in multi-stakeholder processes (see Tips for Trainers, this
issue). Local researchers will investigate
how BCPs are empowering communities
to negotiate their rights. They will look at
ways of levelling out power and reconciling different interests. The outcomes of this
research will then feed into other BCP
processes.
In addition to this, CIKOD will be
working with the community on develop-