2. Golden Star Resources Limited
GENDER AND SUSTAINABLE ALTERNATIVE LIVELIHOODS
INITIATIVE BY GOLDEN STAR OIL PALM PLANTATION
(THE GSOPP CASE )
October, 2008
Mary Ankomah Boakye Boateng
GOLDEN STAR OIL PALM PLANTATIONS LTD
P O Box Airport Post Office
Accra, Ghana
Tel – office (site):
Tel-mobile:
Fax:
Fax:
Golden Star Resources Ltd.

3. Presentation Plan Golden Star Limited GSR Mines Ltd
Mining issues in Ghana
GSR and the gender sensitive approach to sustainable livelihoods
The case study: Golden Star Oil Palm Plantation (GSOPP)
Objectives
Women’s involvement
Socio Economic Impact
Way forward/Vision
Conclusion
Golden Star Resources Ltd.

4. Golden Star Limited
Overview of Golden Star Resources Limited
Canadian international mining company with head office in Denver, Colorado
Has 2 operating mines in Ghana:
Wassa mine
Bogoso/Prestea mines
Golden Star Resources Ltd.

5. Golden Star Limited Location in Ghana Wassa Mine Bogoso/Prestea
Golden Star Resources Ltd.
Golden Star Resources Ltd.

6. OVERVIEW ASM IN GHANA Golden Star Limited
Mining Companies in Ghana are confronted with the realities of ASM
Most prevalent in the Western Region of Ghana
Associated with:
High health and occupational risks
Exploitation
Poverty
Most vulnerable group are women
Golden Star Resources Ltd.

7. Golden Star Limited IMPACT OF MINING OPERATIONS ON WOMEN
Directly engaged in illegal activities leaving children unattended.
Exposed and vulnerable to sex trade
Women bear both the physical and mental strain of mine development.
Women become more at risk of impoverishment, particularly in women headed households.
Women suffer active and often brutal discrimination in the workplace.
Golden Star Resources Ltd.

8. Golden Star Limited
Types/Forms of Sustainable Alternative Livelihood Associated with Mining in Ghana
Agriculture (Mainly being: poultry and livestock, fish farming, local or community farms in the production of food crops to be self sustaining).
Manufacturing-Skills Training (production of local cloths; batik, tie & dye, local handicraft for sale to tourists and others)
Production ( of local soaps, creams and oils some edible)
Golden Star Resources Ltd.

9. GSR’s gender sensitive approach
Golden Star Limited
GSR’s gender sensitive approach
Premise:
Gender defined as, the sexual categorization or characteristics differentiating masculinity and femininity and their roles are determined by cultural, social and economic facts which are learned by all women and men in all societies.
Recognising that Gender roles are dynamic and change over time.
GSR’s gender mainstreaming approach
Conscious effort to employ women to positions
Policies & procedures , management’s involvement
Training programmes for women (dump truck operators, survey, line and pegging etc)
Golden Star Resources Ltd.

10. GSR’s approach to Sustainable Livelihoods
Golden Star Limited
GSR’s approach to Sustainable Livelihoods
Community forums – Community consultation Committees (Including all stakeholders of Women (women leaders like queen mothers, women groups), Youth and Men representatives
Empowering women to participate – being on all the sub-committees in the communities.
- Affirmative action in all Community Consultation Committees and the Community Mine Consultation Committee.
Engaging and involving all stakeholders – Sensitization and training programs
Golden Star Resources Ltd.

11. Golden Star Limited
Golden Star Oil Palm Plantations Limited (GSOPP) Initiative
Smallholder concept of oil palm development
Traditional authorities provide land and local people are paid for their labour to develop the project.
GSOPP provides development capital and operating funds (loans to smallholder farmers)
GSOPP receives 0.1% of GSR pre-tax profit & USD1 per ounce of gold produced
GSOPP provides technical support
GSOPP purchases fruit
After 3 years, farmers will trained to operate the small plots and will then be beneficiaries of plots (4 ha).
Golden Star Resources Ltd.

12. Golden Star Limited Objectives of GSOPP
Provide a lasting and positive economic effect as a result of contributions from mining;
Poverty reduction through employment generation;
Rehabilitation of tailings disposal facilities that contributes to the local economy for the long term.
Golden Star Resources Ltd.

13. Golden Star Limited Women’s Involvement
Traditional authorities provide land and local people are paid for their labour to develop the project. – Conscious efforts are made to employ women on the plantations and women are encouraged to cultivate vegetables and other food crops on the already prepared lands and amongst the palms.
GSOPP provides development capital and operating funds (loans to smallholder farmers) – Implementing team led by a gender specialist
GSOPP provides technical support – Conscious effort made to train women on all technical work (e.g. the fields as in survey, line and pegging on the plantation)
GSOPP purchases fruit – Women are selected as smallholder farmers and Proceeds of their fruits go directly to them
After 3 years, farmers will trained to operate the small plots and will then be beneficiaries of plots (4 ha) – 40% of beneficiaries are women. Once women are selected they have on the job training.
Golden Star Resources Ltd.

14. Golden Star Limited WOMEN’S INVOLVEMENT
Women involved in GSOPP planting operations. Statistics – 40%
Sensitivity to both men & women’s needs
Golden Star Resources Ltd.

15. Golden Star Limited WOMEN’S INVOLVEMENT
Women groups undertaking vegetable cultivation under the oil palms.
Golden Star Resources Ltd.

16. Golden Star Limited WOMEN’S INVOLVEMENT
These women form part of over 300 employees engaged in carrying seedlings to the planting points.
Planting of palms commenced on 6th July 2006.
Golden Star Resources Ltd.

17. Expected socio-economic and environmental impact of GSOPP
Golden Star Limited
Expected socio-economic and environmental impact of GSOPP
Provide a lasting and positive economic effect as a result of contributions from mining:- sustainability – farms are owned by individual farmers. Lifespan of oil palm is 25yrs. Fruit harvest bi-weekly. Proceeds go directly to farmers.
Poverty reduction through employment creation:- target 40% of women projected
Rehabilitation:- Providing an end-land use for tailings disposal facilities that contributes to the local economy for the long term. Instead of ordinary plants oil palm is used to reclaim land.
Gender mainstreaming/sensitivity – improved empowerment of women
Golden Star Resources Ltd.

18. Golden Star Limited Way Forward/Vision
GSOPP will develop a successful sustainable alternative livelihood project that demonstrates the benefits of partnerships with mining companies.
Complete a cost-benefit analysis with a view to installing a palm oil processing plant
Evaluate the option to manufacture bio-diesel.
Reduce the need for people to work on illegal activities such as “Galamsey”
Golden Star Resources Ltd.

19. Golden Star Limited Matured palm trees Fish Farming Sericulture
Golden Star Resources Ltd.

20. Matured Oil Palm Fruits
Golden Star Limited
Matured Oil Palm Fruits
Sericulture
Fish Farming
Golden Star Resources Ltd.

21. Golden Star Limited Harvested Palm Fruits Fish Farming Sericulture
Golden Star Resources Ltd.

22. Palm Plantation-Bogoso
Golden Star Limited
Palm Plantation-Bogoso
Sericulture
Fish Farming
Golden Star Resources Ltd.

23. Golden Star Limited Farmers at Work Fish Farming Sericulture
Golden Star Resources Ltd.

24. Farmer weeding her plot
Golden Star Limited
Farmer weeding her plot
Sericulture
Fish Farming
Golden Star Resources Ltd.

25. Palm Field/Plantation
Golden Star Limited
Palm Field/Plantation
Sericulture
Fish Farming
Golden Star Resources Ltd.

26. Thanks Golden Star Limited Fish Farming Sericulture
Golden Star Resources Ltd.