Farmers at Yayaaso appeal to Newmont Akyem

Yayaaso (E/R), May 12, GNA - Farmers at Yayaaso, a farming community in the Birim North District, has

appealed to Newmont Akyem Gold Mining Company, to effect acceptable compensation of all crops it destroys

during their operations. The farmers claimed that their cocoa, oil palm and other food stuffs were being destroyed by the company

without being paid the right compensation. Speaking to the Ghana News Agency in an interview, a spokesman of the farmers, Mr Kwame Denkyera, said

since January this year, farmers in the area had been prevented from cultivating their farms by the company whiles

crops on the farms were being destroyed without compensation. He said as a result, about 60 farmers undertook a peaceful march to the company's operational area to protest

against the further destruction of their crops. The spokesman said the company had also refused to employ people from the community, after destroying their

crops without compensation, while some farmers were also arrested, detained and molested by the police. When Newmont Akyem Gold Mining Company was contacted, the Communication Manager, Mr Oduro Kwarteng

Marfo, said the company had been operating under the mineral and mining act as well as the constitution of the

country. He said when the company received its mining lease on January 29 this year, a moratorium was declared, where

the farmers could not upgrade their crops to a higher value and build new structures on their land but some farmers

failed to abide by it. The Communication Manager said since the company started its operation in the area, compensation were paid

after the crops compensation review committee, made up of representatives of the farmers, opinion leaders, the

district assembly and the company, agreed on an acceptable annual rate to be used to work out the compensation

to be paid for the crops destroyed. He said the company had used the 2009 rate to pay for last year's compensation to the farmers and now

working out for this year's rate to settle the compensation of the crops that would be affected during their

operation. Mr Kwarteng said efforts were been made to use last year's rate to pay for this year's compensation and settle

the difference after the committee had come out with an acceptable rate. He urged the affected farmers to co-operate with the company and send their grievances to them for an

amicable settlement.