Author: Our Correspondent, Terchire
The Land Valuation Division of the Lands Commission has come under fire from farmers in Afrisipakrom, Terchire, Susuanso and Adrobaa in the Ahafo Region.
The farmers, operating under the Concerned Farmers Association, are demanding compensation for structures on their lands, which were compulsorily acquired by the state in 2024 for Newmont’s Ahafo North mining project.
Speaking to the press at Terchire in the Tano North Municipality of the Ahafo Region on Monday, November 2, the Association’s Chairman, John Mensah, said they invited the media to draw attention to delays by the Land Valuation Division in paying compensation.
According to him, although the lands were acquired for Newmont’s Ahafo North project, compensation for structures on the affected properties remains unpaid.
“We also want to respond to Newmont’s petition to the Lands Commission describing our structures as ‘speculative’. We reject this claim. We are concerned that this petition is delaying payment of compensation for our structures under compulsory acquisition E.I. 273 of 2024,” he said.
“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 stressed.
THE LANDS AND THE STRUCTURES ON THEM
According to Mr Mensah, the government compulsorily acquired the lands through two Executive Instruments (E.I.), official documents through which the state acquired the properties for Newmont’s Ahafo North mining project in the Tano North Municipality.
“The first instrument, E.I. 356, was issued on 29th September 2023. The second, E.I. 273, was issued on 15th July 2024.
“The affected lands included farms and properties belonging to members of our Association in Afrispakrom, Terchire, Susuanso and Adrobaa,” he said.
He recounted that in December 2023, when the state took possession of the lands covered by the first acquisition, properties on the affected lands were destroyed, leaving residents with little opportunity to retrieve their belongings or salvage whatever they could.
“We consider the way we were treated cruel and unfair. Our properties were destroyed so that the land could be handed over to Newmont.
“We lost properties and sources of income on which our families depended,” he said.
THE STRUCTURES WERE RECORDED ON THE LAND
The Association’s Chairman outlined the procedures through which the structures on the affected lands were identified and documented.
He said that, as part of a process supervised by a Ministerial Committee chaired by the then Deputy Executive Secretary of the Lands Commission, Newmont, the affected farmers and representatives of the Lands Commission jointly inspected, counted and recorded the affected crops and structures.
“The structure records were also completed and signed by the affected farmer, the surveyor, representatives of the Land Valuation Division, a representative of the Resettlement Negotiation Committee and a Newmont representative.
“The properties identified as qualifying for compensation were then presented to the Committee,” he said.
He stated that the field enumeration records were subsequently submitted to the Lands Commission, with the properties identified during the joint exercise classified as qualifying for compensation.
“Our lawyer and valuers met several times with Lands Commission officials in Goaso and Accra to discuss compensation for our lands, crops and farm structures,” Mr Mensah stated.
He disclosed that, after almost two years of the second acquisition, the Lands Commission, through its Valuation Technical Committee, approved compensation amounts for crops, structures and lands acquired under E.I. 273 in a letter dated 13th April 2026.
“With our consent and approval, our lawyers and valuers accepted those amounts in a letter dated 24th April 2026 to the Lands Commission.
“After going through these processes, we expected payment. Instead, we faced another obstacle,” he said.
Mr Mensah identified the latest obstacle as Newmont’s petition to the Lands Commission, in which the company reportedly described the structures on the acquired lands as “speculative”.
THE DEMANDS
Mr Mensah said the Association is calling on the Lands Commission to resolve all outstanding issues and release compensation for the structures affected by E.I. 273 without further delay.
“We ask the Commission to resolve the outstanding issues without further delay and pay compensation for all our structures under E.I. 273,” he demanded.
He further called for urgent payment to members affected by E.I. 356, who, according to him, have received no compensation since their properties were taken almost three years ago.
“We also call for urgent payment to our members affected by E.I. 356, who have received nothing since their properties were taken almost three years ago,” he said.
The Association is also demanding a formal written explanation from the Commission outlining any outstanding concerns, together with a definite payment schedule.
“The Commission must give us a clear written explanation of any outstanding issues and a definite timetable for payment.
“We cannot continue waiting without knowing when this suffering will end,” he said.
FULFIL ITS DUTY
The Association’s Chairman reminded the Lands Commission of its statutory responsibilities under the Land Act, particularly its obligation to ensure fair and timely compensation whenever the government compulsorily acquires private property.
“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.
He maintained that the farmers had fully cooperated with the relevant authorities and complied with all procedures required of them throughout the compensation process.
“We have attended meetings, allowed our properties to be inspected and recorded, worked through our lawyers and valuers and followed the processes placed before us.
“We now call on the Lands Commission to fulfil its duty,” he stated.
Mr Mensah also cautioned against any attempt by Newmont, as the beneficiary of the compulsory 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 said the continued delay in compensation had placed considerable financial pressure on affected households, whose lands and properties had been taken over for the mining project.
“Our lands have been taken for the project but our families continue to bear the hardship of unpaid compensation.
“We ask for fair treatment, respect for our rights and payment without further delay.
“We appeal to the media to bring our concerns to the public and help ensure that our voices are heard,” he said.
