From Awareness to Action: BRACE Empowers Communities and Expands Access to Justice
The BRACE Project is strengthening communities across Ghana affected by mining operations. Over six months, the initiative has partnered with the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) and the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) to build capacity among residents to address environmental and social impacts of mining.
The project has engaged 539 participants from 73 communities, providing training on Ghana's National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights. Community members learned to document violations, report grievances, and hold duty bearers accountable, with training covering environmental protection, land rights, water resource management, public health, and livelihood concerns.
A significant development is the introduction of the BRACE Legal Support Provision, which removes financial barriers to justice by offering legal assistance to individuals and communities harmed by illegal or irresponsible mining. Affected persons can contact BRACE community representatives or organizations including A Rocha Ghana, WACAM, or the Nature and Development Foundation for support access.
The EU-funded project aims to transition mining-affected communities from vulnerability to active advocacy, fostering accountability and responsible business practices while safeguarding environmental and human rights protections.