ABSTRACT
Stakeholder engagement and company-community relations in Ghana’s extractive sector remain a critical subject of inquiry. As mining and oil companies expand their operations, they face complex challenges in navigating local expectations, legal requirements, and social responsibilities. Best practices in this area often involve early and continuous dialogue with affected communities, transparent communication about project impacts, and the implementation of benefit-sharing mechanisms. However, Ghana’s regulatory framework is nested within a complex dichotomy between customary and statutory laws. This chapter examines stakeholder consultation within the context of such pluralism and resulting contestations surrounding land rights, compensation, and benefit-sharing, highlighting how these issues affect community relations. Drawing upon case studies from key mining regions supported by primary data from recent fieldwork, the chapter explores the growing discontent among local communities over inequitable resource distribution, environmental degradation, and the lack of meaningful participation in decision-making.
