By Our Correspondent, Terchire
The Concerned Farmers Association of Afrisipakrom, Terchire, Susuanso and Adrobaa in the Ahafo Region has called on the Lands Commission to reject a petition by Newmont challenging compensation for some structures belonging to affected farmers and proceed with the payment of amounts already approved by its Valuation Technical Committee.
The Association says the prolonged delay in settling compensation claims has caused frustration among its members, who insist that their properties were properly identified, inspected and recorded during the valuation exercise conducted in 2024.
Addressing a press conference at Terchire in the Tano North Municipality on Monday, November 2, the Chairman of the Association, John Mensah, said the Lands Commission had already completed the necessary assessment and communicated the approved compensation amounts to the affected farmers.
According to him, in a letter dated April 13, 2026, the Commission, through its Valuation Technical Committee, approved compensation for crops, structures and lands acquired under Executive Instrument (E.I.) 273.
He explained that the affected farmers, through their lawyers and valuers, subsequently accepted the approved amounts in a letter dated April 24, 2026, expecting that the payment process would proceed without further complications.
“After almost 2 years of the 2nd acquisition, in a letter dated 13th April 2026 the Lands Commission, through its Valuation Technical Committee approved compensation amounts for our crops, structures and lands acquired under E.I. 273. With our consent and approval, our lawyers and valuers accepted those amounts in a letter dated 24th April 2026 to the Lands Commission,” he said.
However, Mr Mensah said the farmers were confronted with another challenge while waiting for their compensation after Newmont submitted a petition to the Lands Commission on June 9, 2026.
The petition reportedly questioned the eligibility of 21 members of the Association to receive compensation for their structures, describing the properties as speculative.
He said the Commission subsequently wrote to the farmers’ representatives, requesting their comments to enable it to consider the concerns raised by the mining company and determine the way forward.
“While we were waiting for our money, we received a letter dated 9th June 2026 from the Lands Commission. The letter informed our representatives that Newmont had submitted a petition claiming that some structures belonging to 21 of us should not receive compensation. The Commission asked for our comments to enable it to decide on the matter,” he explained.
The Association has strongly rejected Newmont’s position, arguing that the structures in question were established long before the mining company planned to extend its operations into the affected communities.
Mr Mensah maintained that the properties were not constructed for the purpose of attracting compensation but served as homes, farming facilities and places for other farming-related activities.
He said the structures were an essential part of the farmers’ livelihoods and daily lives, making it unfair for the properties to be classified as speculative after the farmers had lost access to their lands.
“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’. 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 asserted.
The Chairman disclosed that the Association’s lawyers and valuers had responded to the Lands Commission’s request for comments, rejecting the mining company’s petition as unfounded.
He further pointed to the joint inspection and documentation exercise conducted in 2024 as evidence that the structures were known to all parties involved in the acquisition process.
According to him, representatives of Newmont participated in the exercise alongside the affected farmers and officials of the Lands Commission, during which the structures were inspected, counted and recorded.
Mr Mensah said the records were subsequently signed by the representatives of the parties, making them important documents that should be considered in determining the farmers’ compensation claims.
“We again draw attention to the joint records made during the 2024 exercise. Newmont’s representatives signed those records alongside the affected farmers and representatives of the Lands Commission. The records confirm that the structures were identified and recorded. They form part of the evidence that must be considered fairly when deciding our claims,” he stated.
He reiterated that the farmers would not accept the description of their properties as speculative, insisting that the structures existed before the proposed expansion of mining activities into their communities.
The Association is therefore urging the Lands Commission to resolve the outstanding issues and ensure that compensation for all affected structures under E.I. 273 is paid without further delay.
Mr Mensah also drew attention to another group of farmers whose lands and properties were acquired under E.I. 356 of 2023, saying they had yet to receive any 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 said.
He appealed to the Commission to treat the concerns of the affected farmers with urgency, stressing that compensation should not be unnecessarily delayed after the relevant assessments and acceptance of the approved amounts.
The Chairman also reminded the Lands Commission of its responsibilities under the Land Act, 2020 (Act 1036), particularly its role in assessing compensation when the government acquires land.
He argued that the responsibility for determining and facilitating compensation rests with the appropriate state institutions and should not be undermined by the interests of a private company benefiting from the acquisition.
“The Lands Commission through the Land Valuation Division has a legal duty in this process assessing compensation when the Government acquires land. We reiterate when Government acquires land. The Land Act also requires the Land Commission to assess and pay prompt, fair and adequate compensation,” he stated.
Mr Mensah further cautioned against allowing Newmont, as the beneficiary of the acquisition, to assume responsibilities that legally belong to the Lands Commission.
“Newmont is the beneficiary of the acquisition. It is not the State. It must not take over the Lands Commission’s responsibility to assess and pay compensation according to law,” he stated.
He called on the Land Valuation Division to carry out its mandate independently and professionally, without improper influence or compromises that could undermine the rights of the affected farmers.
“We call on the Land Valuation Division of the Lands Commission to carry out their duties independently, without improper influence or compromises that undermine our rights,” he said.
The Association maintained that its members were seeking fair treatment and the payment of compensation for properties affected by the land acquisition.
It is now calling for the Lands Commission to bring the matter to a conclusion, honour the approved compensation assessments and ensure that affected farmers are not subjected to further delays in receiving what they are entitled to.
