What do Togolese people think of social and environmental impacts of mining activities in the country?
Wednesday, 30 October 2019 15:57 
(Togo First) - A growing number of Togolese, though not the majority, have a positive perception of mining activities in the country. This was revealed by a study conducted to assess how people perceive the environmental impacts of these activities.
In effect, nearly 59% of the surveyed population believes the activities have a negative impact on the environment.
The results of the study have been submitted for validation by actors of the mining industry, representatives of the ministry of mining, the PDGM, traditional authorities, representatives of mining companies and civil society. The validation session which begins today will close tomorrow; it takes place in Lomé.
The validation "aims to ensure that the study which was trusted to a consultant was conducted thoroughly," says Bala Kindi Abali, expert on social and environmental preservation at the PDGM. Once adopted, the study and its recommendations should help develop an appropriate mechanism to handle complaints related to mining activities.
The latter should reduce conflicts due to the negative impacts of these operations. These include soil degradation which affects agricultural productivity, atmospheric and water degradation impacting health, relocalization, and displacement of populations who are often not appropriately compensated.
According to Sogle Damidaré, Director General of the Mining and Geology office, validating the study should also enable authorities to tackle various issues relative to the environmental impact of mining operations in Togo.
Séna Akoda
