Ghana Government pays GHc1,225,630 to farmers affected by dam construction

Government on Wednesday paid a total amount of GH¢1,225,630 to farmers directly affected by the construction of the 400 megawatts Bui hydroelectric Dam at Bui in Tain District of the Brong-Ahafo Region.

Acres of economic trees and crops belonging to 580 farmers at Bui and its environs were cleared to pave the way for the construction of the dam which is about 80 per cent complete. The first power supply from the dam is scheduled for October this year.

The beneficiary farmers are from Brewohodi, Dokokyina, Jama, Resettlement Sites, Bui, Ankanyakrom, Agbegikrom and Bator.

Mr. Joachim Desewu, Head of Finance of the Land Valuation Division (LVD) of the Lands Commission, on the behalf of the government presented the cheques to the farmers at separate meetings in the communities.

He said it would take a longer time for the government to pay land compensation as large acres of land were affected by the project.

Mr. Desewu explained that, the enumeration on the economic trees and crops was done by the LVD in 2010 after taking inventory of the various farmlands within the project area.

He said supplementary valuation was done in the first quarter of 2011 in order to capture farmers who might have been absent from the initial inventory taken due to one reason or the other.

This process included verification of farmlands and also settling of disputes arising from ownership of the farms, Mr. Desewu explained.

He said the government, was yet to effect compensation payments to farmers whose farmlands were also destroyed in the construction of the power lines to the dam site and urged affected farmers to exercise patience.

Mr. Desewu advised the compensated farmers to use the monies judiciously.**