They said this would help in effective natural resources and environment governance.

The CSOs and the media gave the assurance at their 9th CSOs Annual Natural Resources and Environment Forum in Accra under the theme: “Review of Stakeholders Engagement on Effective Natural Resources Governance: Challenges and Prospects.”

The forum was organised by Kasa Initiative - Ghana and supported by CARE International.

Professor Chris Gordon of the Institute for Environment and Sanitation Studies, University of Ghana who chaired the function in an address said Ghanaians needed to ask themselves the sort of governance or transformation they need.

He said: “Is it governance for transformation, governance of transformation or transformation in governance?”  Prof Gordon said simple solutions to complex problems often end up creating worse situation and called on the CSOs to think outside the box for effective transformation in the natural resources governance.

Mr Samuel Obiri, who represented the mining sector said the stability clause, which was part of the provisions in the Minerals and Mining Act 703 (2006) is currently under review to enable the government to raise minerals revenue.     

He said the government through the Minerals Commission was making conscious effort to develop a comprehensive national policy and programme to enhance the contribution of the sector for revenue and rural employment generation.

Mr Obiri said the Mining Development Fund Bill has been passed to enable members of the sector monitor the usage of the funds. He called for periodic meeting for negotiation and dialogue within the mining sector for effective engagement to adopt key strategies in natural resources governance.

Mr. Ezekiel Chibeze the Coordinator for the Climate Change and Environment sector said the AKOBEN programme, an initiative of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was over the years used to track citizens' participation in climate change and that, the CSOs should push forward to strengthen their networks on the environment to enhance advocacy on the issues of climate change.

He urged the CSOs to collaborate with the private sector to benefit from the Green Climate Fund. Madam Ama Kudom-Agyemang, speaking on behalf of the media in the natural resources and environment sector called on the government and non-governmental organisations to create a resource pool to support media personnel in the sector.

She called on the media to increase their efforts in developing and implementing programmes on natural resources and environment issues. Madam Kudom-Agyemang said the launch of the media campaign against open defecation, galamsey and illegal fishing had helped a lot and it must be continued.

Mrs Hannah Owusu-Koranteng, the Chairperson for Kasa Initiative - Ghana said the organisation creates platforms that facilitate the coordination among CSOs, non-state actors and government on the natural resource and environment governance to ensure that, the rights of the vulnerable citizens are respected, protected and fulfilled.

She expressed gratitude to the sponsors of this year’s annual review.