Organized by the Think Tank Initiative for Economic Prospects and Sustainable Development (IPED), with financial support from the 11th Hour Project, the meeting was attended by Mrs. Biliga KOIVOGUI, chair of the CWP Steering Committee.
The opening ceremony was presided over by Mr. Alpha Abdourahmane SOW, Deputy Director General of the FOMI Project.
In summary, the study showed that the displaced and host populations in the Garafiri area did not receive adequate support to cope with the impacts of the dam. The area lacks electricity, drinking water, health centres, schools, youth centres, roads, income-generating activities. In addition, population displacements have had enormous consequences, including water-related conflicts, insufficient arable land, etc.
Participants were duly informed of the issues involved in the construction of large dams and they exchanged views on the issue. The participants also had a great insight into the living conditions of the Garafiri people after the dam was built and an idea of the potential impacts of the Fomi dam in order to better prepare the people to defend their rights.
Participants recommended:
- The publication of the legal document of the ECOWAS Directive on Large Hydraulic Infrastructures in West Africa;
- Advocacy at the national level for the transposition of the directive into Guinean legislation;
- The establishment of a national network on dams;
- The commitment of a plea to the Ministry of Urban and Regional Planning for the adoption of the manual on Expropriation for Public Utility (ECUP) by the government
- Further research on dams to identify widely the concerns of the population.