FoN advocates 30% MDF for women economic empowerment, develops guidelines

By Mildred Siabi-Mensah 

Takoradi, July 26, GNA – Friends of the Nation (FoN), an NGO, has intensified its campaign for at least 30 per cent of Mineral Development Fund (MDF) resources to be dedicated to programmes that support the economic and social development needs of women in mining communities. 

Ghana’s extractive sector remains a major contributor to national and local economic development.  

Under the Minerals Development Fund Act, 2016 (Act 912), a portion of mineral royalties is allocated to mining-affected districts to support local development and improve livelihoods in host communities. 

However, evidence indicates that the utilisation of MDF resources has not consistently addressed the different needs and priorities of women and men. 

Mr Solomon Ampofo, Programmes Coordinator of FoN, said limited gender-responsive planning and budgeting had constrained the Fund’s potential to promote inclusive and equitable development in mining communities. 

He was speaking at a stakeholders’ dialogue organised to strengthen the quality, ownership and legitimacy of the draft Gender-Responsive Guidelines for the Management of the Mineral Development Fund. 

Participants included representatives of the Tarkwa Nsuaem Municipal, Prestea Huni-Valley Municipal, Wassa East District, Wassa Amenfi East Municipal, Ellembelle District and Sefwi Wiawso Municipal Assemblies, as well as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Office of the Administrator of Stool Lands (OASL), and other key stakeholders. 

Mr Ampofo said FoN, in partnership with Oxfam, launched the “30 Per Cent Campaign”, an advocacy initiative calling for at least 30 per cent of MDF resources to be invested in programmes that directly promote women’s economic empowerment. 

Since its inception, the campaign has engaged key stakeholders, including Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), Local Management Committees (LMCs), the OASL, traditional authorities, women’s groups and civil society organisations to promote gender-responsive governance of mineral revenues. 

He said the campaign had helped to increase awareness of gender-responsive budgeting within mining districts, strengthened dialogue between duty-bearers and rights-holders, and supported the development of draft guidelines to mainstream gender considerations in the management of MDF resources. 

According to him, the draft guidelines provide practical direction for integrating gender equality into the planning, allocation, implementation, monitoring and reporting of MDF-funded programmes and projects. 

The dialogue also sought commitments from key institutions to incorporate gender-responsive budgeting principles into the management and utilisation of the Fund. 

Participants unanimously called for the introduction of a separate budget code for MDF transfers from the Central Government to facilitate effective tracking, accountability and utilisation of the resources. 

The Assemblies further pledged to build on existing institutional arrangements to ensure that the needs and priorities of all persons are adequately reflected in planning and project implementation processes. 

GNA 

Edited by Justina Hilda Paaga/Lydia Kukua Asamoah  

Reporter: Mildred Siabi-Mensah  

Email: [email protected]