The ACCA convened its 4th General Assembly (GA), which took place in Nairobi, Kenya from 10 to 11 October 2018. The theme for this year's ACCA GA was Free, Prior and Informed Consent. The GA was guided by community narratives. The keynote address was delivered by Ms Raya Ahmed from Save Lamu Community and Ms Hannah Owusu-Koratgeng from Wassa Association of Communities Affected by Mining (WACAM) respectively.
The ACCA released its press statement based on this year's ACCA GA, which may be found here.
ACCA STATEMENT - 2018 ACCA GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Published on 18 October 2018
The African Coalition for Corporate Accountability (ACCA) is pleased to have hosted its 4th General Assembly (GA) under the theme Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) in Nairobi, Kenya from the 10th to 11th October 2018. The ACCA is grateful to its partner organisation, Natural Resources Alliances of Kenya (KeNRA), for collaboration in organising this great convening. The ACCA further thanks its members organisations and partners for their active participation of this event.
The ACCA is the largest coalition of civil society organisations (CSOs) working on issues related to business and human rights and corporate accountability across the African continent. The ACCA considers the convening of its GA as an important element in strengthening relationships between its member organisations and partner organisations. The GA is a platform that seeks to build capacity on different aspects of human rights and coalition building at the continental level.
The ACCA views the advancement of FPIC across the African continent as a vital element in strengthening community rights and community participation in development projects, which directly impact communities’ daily lives and livelihoods. The lack of implementation of FPIC at the community level leads to the absence of community participation in development projects. This, in turn, results in failure to take into account traditional values and communities’ rights, notwithstanding the right to the protection of communities’ cultural heritage.
The ACCA acknowledges and commends the efforts and victories of communities to enforce their rights through judicial systems.
However, the ACCA notes with concern the high rate of non-compliance with judicial rulings in favour of communities’ rights across the African continent.
The ACCA calls on governments and businesses operating in Africa to respect and implement the rulings of the courts in favour of communities’ rights. The ACCA calls on CSOs and other relevant actors to support communities in enforcing judicial decisions.
For more information on the ACCA and media requests, please contact Damian Oakes,