Compensate us for our structures – Concerned farmers tell Lands Commission over Newmont’s Ahafo North project

The Concerned Farmers Association of Afrisipakrom, Terchire, Susuanso and Adrobaa is demanding compensation for structures on lands compulsorily acquired by the state in 2024 for Newmont’s Ahafo North mining project.

The association has also rejected a petition by Newmont to the Lands Commission describing the structures as “speculative”, arguing that the claim is delaying the payment of compensation to affected members.

Addressing the media at Terchire on Monday, November 2, the association’s Chairman, John Mensah, said the Land Valuation Division of the Lands Commission had yet to pay compensation for structures belonging to 21 members whose properties were affected by the acquisition under Executive Instrument (E.I.) 273 of 2024.

“We also want to respond to Newmont’s petition to the Lands Commission describing our structures as ‘speculative.’ We reject this claim.

“We are concerned that this petition is delaying the payment of compensation by the Lands Commission for our structures under compulsory acquisition E.I. 273 of 2024,” he said.

Mr Mensah maintained that the structures were not speculative under the mining laws or the Land Act.

“Our position is clear: our structures are not speculative under either the mining laws or the Land Act. We strongly reject the claim that our structures are ‘speculative’,” he said.

He explained that the structures existed before Newmont planned to expand its mining operations into the affected communities.

“These structures existed long before Newmont planned to extend its mining operations into our area. We lived in them and used them for farming and other farming-related businesses.

“They were part of our everyday lives and the means by which we supported our families.

“It is deeply unfair to take our lands, destroy our properties and then describe those properties as ‘speculative’ when it is time to pay compensation,” he added.

Mr Mensah said the government acquired the lands through two Executive Instruments to make way for Newmont’s Ahafo North project in the Tano North Municipality of the Ahafo Region.

“The first instrument, E.I. 356, was issued on 29th September 2023. The second, E.I. 273, was issued on 15th July 2024.

“The affected lands included farms and properties belonging to members of our Association in Afrispakrom, Terchire, Susuanso and Adrobaa,” he said.

He noted that farmers whose lands and properties were affected by the earlier acquisition under E.I. 356 of 2023 had also not received compensation.

“There is also the separate case of other farmers whose lands and properties were taken under E.I. 356 of 2023. Those members have received no compensation at all,” he stressed.

Recounting the events surrounding the first acquisition, Mr Mensah said properties on the affected lands were destroyed in December 2023 when the state took possession of the sites.

He alleged that affected residents were not given sufficient time to remove their belongings or salvage their properties.

“We consider the way we were treated cruel and unfair. Our properties were destroyed so that the land could be handed over to Newmont.

“We lost properties and sources of income on which our families depended,” he said.

Mr Mensah said the structures and crops on the affected lands were inspected, counted and documented through a process supervised by a Ministerial Committee chaired by the then Deputy Executive Secretary of the Lands Commission.

He said Newmont, the affected farmers and representatives of the Lands Commission participated in the exercise.

“The structure records were also completed and signed by the affected farmer, the surveyor, representatives of the Land Valuation Division, a representative of the Resettlement Negotiation Committee and a Newmont representative.

“The properties identified as qualifying for compensation were then presented to the Committee,” he said.

According to him, the field enumeration records were subsequently submitted to the Lands Commission, identifying the properties assessed during the joint exercise as eligible for compensation.

He added that their lawyers and valuers held several meetings with officials of