In the first section the position of the traditional “Queen mothers”and their scope of action within the traditional framework of hierarchy were discussed among the female leaders and the chiefs. The traditional female leaders (depending on the region they are locally called Hala-Kuro or Pognaa) are not only playing an important role on the local level. In particular with the recent foundation of the Hala-Kuro/Pognamine Association of Upper West Region the women gained importance on the tans-national level. As representatives of the women in the community they are possessing substantial political power. At the centre of discussion were the recent authored conditions which include the position, the scope of influence and the familial background of the Hala-Kuros and the Pognaas. Contrary to the view of the Chiefs, the women succeeded in prevailing with several ideas and interests. The council called for an harmonization of the constitution till the end of this month.

“We as women are still facing difficulties in defending our position in a male dominated territory, but we achieved our first goal with the foundation of the Hala-Kuro/Pognamine Association. The men are now accepting our work.” was the statement of Hala-Kuro Hagora Limann I, the vice president of the new founded Association at the end of the workshop. After the programme the women came together to discuss further conceptions of their cooperation.

The planned gold mining project by a foreign investor in the Upper West was the principal theme of the second section. Besides the sensitization of the negative consequences on the local population as well as on the environment in the surrounding area of the mining industry, furthermore the local elites in cooperation with CIKOD prepared initial strategies for solutions. Approximately all participants agreed on the importance of broadening the awareness of the fatal effects due to the gold mining. Moreover the traditional leaders planed to mobilize their common forces to compel the gold industry to expand their cooperation within the community and if possible, by courtesy of a potential Development Fund. Such a fund would target an investment in the sustainable development of the region, so that the local communities could also benefit from the gold industry.

(Isabel Rutter, intern at the KAS Ghana Country Office)