On mining, irregulated business and human rights...

The BBC's File on Four programme investigated (download)the activities Ashanti Goldfields Company owned by the part UK company Anglo Gold. It has a substantial Social Responsibility programme most of which appears to be aimed at building capacity and skills in the industry in South Africa where its corporate headquarters are.

Anglo Gold came to the notice of the US based Human Rights watch in 2003, when it alleged (The Curse of Gold) the company had paid the Front National Integrationniste (FNI) in the Democratic Republic of Congo for access to mining in their area of influence. The company replied that it was unavoidable for any business working in the area not to come into contact with the militias.

In Ghana, only last week the company boasted of new jobs it would bring that country. But the File on Four programme unearthed a number of human rights and enviromental abuses: the leaking of cyanide into local rivers; and a cover up of the shooting of a Galamsey (illegal) miner called Awudu Mohammed who appears to have involved police and security guards in lying about it.

Particularly chilling is an interview with Y B Amponsah, AGC's human resources general manager, in which he appears to blatantly be selecting evidence, and then subtle changing his story. He finally chases the journalists out, when they continue to ask for the material he is trying to hide.

There is clearly Ministerial concern about the general effects of Galamsay mining on the environment. But as the programme points out the shift from deep mine to open cast mining in the last ten years is wrecking havoc on the traditional livelihoods of those in the communities affected.

And a government decision three years ago promises to further eat into Ghana's environmentally sensitive rain forest.

Christian woman stoned to death in Izom, Nigeria

Michelle Malkin points to a disturbing story from in Izom in Gawu Babangida. It seems the life of a 20 year old woman was 'prematurely terminated'. Although Malkin points to another report that has her age as 14.

Sassou-Nguesso new Chair of AU

President Denis Sassou-Nguesso of the Republic of Congo (Congo-Brazzaville), scene of substantial World Bank investment, in a peace process has been elected chairman of the African Union for the next year.

Real news from Zimbabwe...

Kevin Breathnach on the relative scarcity of real news from Africa. And in particular from Zimbabwe points to the This is Zimbabwe blog as an outstanding exception to the rule.

Mobile technology can bridge the divide

In Europe the biggest issue for the mobile phone companies is the semi-permanent distrust of civic watchdogs over the rollout of masts. In Africa however, the Economist leads this week by arguing that mobile technology is the only viable way for ordinary Africans to bridge the digital divide. The School Net Nigeria is one such example.

Botswana: an African success story?

Interesting BBC report on Botswana, which Transparency International has down as Africa's least corrupt country.

Commission report: Our Common Interest

The Commission for Africa launched its report in the historic Africa Hall in Addis today. According to the BBC the jury is out. The challenge will be corruption (endemic in many African countries) on one hand and the closed attitude of the west such as:

...subsidising Western farmers to compete against African ones; selling arms
into war zones; demanding repayment of dubious mega-debts and warehousing
stolen state funds in Western banks. And calls for an extra $25bn a year in
aid to Africa by 2010, more so at calls for a further $25bn a year by 2015.

Bob Geldoff believes the onus is now on Blair and Brown to sell the report to the richest nation on earth:

Tony and Gordon have to prepare to ring up George [Bush] and say 'do this, George, do this one thing for me, it’s going to cost you f***-all, do it for me'. Hopefully with the relationship that exists between Blair and Bush he will be able to go to the president and ask for this to bo done.

End of conflict in Darfur?

The Sudanese government appears keen to bring the conflict with rebels in Darfur to an end. Since conflict erupted in February 2003, more than 70,000 people have been killed or have died from hunger and disease in the area, according to the UN, and another 1.5 million were displaced.