Newmont Ghana neglects 97-year-old farmer

Maame Ama Serwaa, a 97-year-old farmer in Techire whose farms and properties were affected by the Newmont Ahafo North mine operations in the Tano North Municipality of the Ahafo Region, says life remains difficult for her.

She said she found it difficult to pay her medical bills and cater for her family, alleging that the mine had failed to pay her compensation after destroying her farms.

Maame Serwaa appealed to President John Dramani Mahama for intervention so the mine would do the needful and pay her compensation, which covered 155 acres of farmland.

She shared her sentiments in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Terchire on the sidelines of a news conference organised by the Concerned Farmers Association in the area.

The nonagenarian said her affected farms comprised oil palm and teak plantations as well as some food crops.

The association comprised farmers whose farms and properties had been affected by operations at the Newmont Ahafo mine.

They are spread across Terchire, Adrobaa, Afrisipakrom, and Susuanso, all mining communities in the area.

Another aggrieved farmer, known only as Asibi, shared similar sentiments, alleging that the mine failed to pay compensation for her poultry farm.

Earlier, at the news conference, Bismark Oduro Mensah, Chairman of the Concerned Farmers Association, lamented that about 84 affected farmers had not received compensation for their land and other property.

He said the communities were now feeling the impacts of the mine’s operations, which had deprived most community members of their livelihoods.

Mensah called on human rights organisations and actors to ensure the mining company paid due compensation to the affected farmers.