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Newmont Kenyasi mining area under
threat from residents
Kenyasi (B/A), June 25, Ghanadot/GNA –
Newmont Ghana Gold Limited (NGGL), managers of the Ahafo
project at Kenyasi in Asutifi District in the Brong-Ahafo
Region, has expressed worry about the rate at which
residents put up structures and farm on its mining lease
purposely to claim compensations.
Mr Randy Barnes, External Affairs Manager, told newsmen at
Kenyasi on Wednesday that, the practice was impeding the
operations of the company.
Leading newsmen to Amoma, an area within the concessions
that the company intends to excavate, he said the situation
was putting a strain on the company considering the high
investments it has made in the area.
Mr Barnes said the company always declared a moratorium of
its activities on the mine site and noted with regret that
immediately after the declaration, people started raising
structures with the hope of getting compensation.
“NGGL will and only compensate those who built before the
declaration of the moratorium and who are found eligible for
resettlement, relocation or compensation in accordance with
the provisions of the 1992 Constitution and the new minerals
and mining Act (2006) 703”, he warned.
Mr Barnes said NGGL believed in dialogue to improve its
relationship with communities within its operational areas.
He indicated that the company would conduct survey to record
buildings, crops and land owners in the control area in
collaboration with the land owners and lawful occupiers on
the matter.
“After the declaration of moratorium at the Amoma area,
perpetrators erected more than 400 illegal structures, a
practice that not only frustrate the company but also the
community, since the company will not compensate such
people,” he added.
Mr Barnes said in order not to create unnecessary confusion,
NGGL had established a monitoring and control team to
educate local communities on the company’s concessions and
cautioned that “no one should build a structure or upgrade
crops in the control area without the approval of NGGL”.
He said the company’s mining lease in the
area is 535 square kilometres and was currently working on
8,000 acres of land.
“The company since 2004 and 2006 has paid crop compensation
of 14 million dollars”, Mr Barnes added.
He called on the Minerals Commission to intervene and help
halt the activities of the encroachers in order to avert
unnecessary tensions between the communities and the
company.
GNA
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