Zorgho, The consortium of NGOs Caritas-Suisse, Solidar-Suisse and Artisanal Gold Council (AGC) and implementing partners of the “Responsible Gold (OR) project” organized October 19 and 20, 2023 in Zorgho, a training session for the benefit of artisanal and small-scale mining (MAPE) stakeholders in the Central Plateau region. The opening of the session was delivered by the President of the special municipal delegation (PDS) of Zorgho, Valentin Badolo.
On October 19 and 20, 2023, managers of gold panning sites, representatives of artisanal mining groups and community leaders from the communes of Absouya, Mogtédo and Méguet benefited from training on the “Minamata” convention. .
“Minamata” is the name of a Japanese city which experienced a historical tragedy linked to the use of mercury and occupational health and safety.
During the two days, the aim was specifically to present to participants the health and environmental risks linked to the use of mercury on the sites, to describe the precautions to take to minimize the risks, to describe the different opportunities linked to the application of the Minamata Convention on the elimination of mercury.
During the discussions, the aim was to encourage the support of artisanal miners for mercury-free ore processing technologies.
Themes relating to health and safety at work in artisanal mining were addressed, allowing the organizers to evaluate the perception of artisanal miners on the notion of health and safety at work, to present the risks and illnesses linked to mining. artisanal.
On this occasion, it was also a question of promoting good practice in terms of health and safety at work on sites, of encouraging participants to wear personal protective equipment and to practice basic first aid gestures.
This training is part of the activities of the “Responsible Gold” project. The first phase of this project is being implemented in the regions of the Central Plateau (communes of Absouya, Méguet and Mogtédo) and the Center-West (communes of Dassa and Réo). It started on May 1, 2023 for a duration of 4 years.
The project aims to establish responsible gold exploitation in artisanal mining sites in Burkina Faso so that actors in the artisanal gold production chain benefit from better services and working conditions and contribute to local development.
The President of the special delegation (PDS) of Zorgho, Valentin Badolo said he was honored to welcome the training in his administrative district.
He expressed his gratitude to the Ministry of Mines and Quarries, the Swiss Development and Cooperation Directorate in Burkina Faso and the NGO consortium Caritas-Suisse, Solidar-Suisse and Artisanal Gold Council (AGC) for the choice made on Zorgho to host this training.
He thanked the organizers for their commitment to the communities invested in the search for gold.
The country representative for the Canadian NGO Artisanal Gold Council (AGC), Saïdou Kabré appreciated the enthusiasm of the participants for the different themes.
He invited them to appropriate the knowledge that was transferred to them and to share it with other artisanal miners in order to improve practices on artisanal gold mining sites.
Mr. Kabré thanked the Ministry of Mines and Quarries, the General Directorate of Environmental Preservation and all partner NGOs for their involvement.
The president of the regional union of gold miners of the central plateau, Issa Compaoré welcomed the holding of this training. He, like many other participants, raised the question of the consumption of adulterated drinks by gold miners and invited the competent authorities to look into this.
Mr. Compaoré thanked the organizers and hoped that they would continue raising awareness on gold panning sites.
Source: Burkina Information Agency