No Gold for Kalsaka

When the government of Burkina Faso passes a law that permits gold to be extracted from the small village of Kalsaka, the villagers are flooded with promises. Hopes rise sky-high, but nothing is captured in contracts. Now, the community fights for compensation, for justice, and for its dignity.

‘Kalsaka would become like Paris!’ shouts the town crier. When the British Kalsaka Mining corporation starts its operations in a small Burkina Faso town, hopes were high and promises were endless. For the people of Kalsaka there would be schools, clinics, a recreation center and scholarships for local students. Kalsaka Mining would also contribute millions in taxes each year to the public treasury. Like the television news said: ‘Today, gold is finally shining for everyone.’

But after the British completed their operations and went away, Kalsaka was left in shambles. Without the promised wealth but with polluted lands and waters.