He said focus should be made on human rights training and stakeholders should involve artisanal miners and the small scale miners in all their efforts.Speaking at the Voluntary Principles Initiative- Corporate Social Responsibility forum held recently at the Labadi Beach Hotel, Mr Lipsett said the protection of human rights should be considered a shared value for the company, its employees and surrounding communities.

The theme for the event was: “Aligning the Voluntary Principles to mining operations in Ghana: challenges, lessons and opportunities for the future”.Mr Lipsett said there is the need for more training on the goals of the Voluntary Principles Initiative  adding that efforts should be made in establishing the real causes of conflicts and seek ways to forestall their occurrence.

Heather Cameron, the High Commissioner of Canada, in her opening remarks, explained that the written principles represent a voluntary agreement between participating companies, government and civil society organizations on what steps companies should take to ensure their security practices with respect to human rights.

She said there is the need for the intensification of the collaboration between extractive companies, security forces and the surrounding communities to reduce conflicts.High Commissioner Cameron said there is an office in the Canadian High Commission to provide advice and facilitate dialogue in this regard.

Mr Leon Nefdt, Regional Security Director, Newmont Ghana Corporation, said the company is making the needed effort to ensure that the Voluntary Principles are adhered in its activities.He said this is being done as part of the company’s goal of creating value and improving lives through sustainable and responsible mining.

Mr Nefdt said the key challenges facing the company are employee and community unrests, lease encroachment, theft of gold bearing materials and explosives amongst others.In this regard, he said, there is the need to ensure safety, integrity and inclusion.Mr Emmanuel Yirenkyi Antwi, Policy Director of the Artisanal Small Scale Mining Network, said the promulgation of the small scale mining law in 1989 has helped to improve the condition of the artisanal and small scale miner the country.

He said small scale miners are active in nine regions of the country and are the main producers of diamonds in the country.Mr Antwi said there is the need for more training for small scale miners with regards to the Voluntary Principles adding that this amongst other efforts would help dispel the negative perception of artisanal miners in the country.

Participants at the event included members of the Canada –Ghana Chamber of Commerce, Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, the Mineral Commission, the security services, mining companies and representatives of small scale miners.