Five communities to be relocated due to mining concession

Five communities in the Upper Denkyira West and Wassa Amenfi Districts affected by the operations of Persues Mining Ghana Limited (PMGL), an Australian gold mining company, are to be relocated.

These are Ayanfuri, Gyaman, Fobenso, Abenabena and Nkonya.

This followed permission by the Minerals Commission to expand the company’s mining area by an additional 1,040 hectares stretch of land.

The mine has already begun the demarcation of the boundary to determine the actual population that would have to be resettled.

Dr Fredrick Addison, the Project Manager, said they would ensure that those who lose their farms and other properties would be adequately compensated.

He said eligible landowners and lawful occupiers in the mining area would receive compensation in “accordance with the law for crops, buildings (immovable structures) and deprivation of use of the land.”

The money to be paid would be based on asset survey undertaken by an independent value in the presence of the owner, land valuation division officers, community representatives and the company’s officials.

Dr Addison said this when speaking at a forum held at Ayanfuri to formally inform the people about the “declaration of moratorium” that effectively disallowed them from either undertaking new developments or improvement of farms.

The goal was to help them to have better understanding of what was happening, prevent speculative activities and promote compliance.

He underlined their determination to constructively engage and work with the people to bring progress and ensure that there was consistent flow of information between the company and the stakeholders.

Mrs Florence Ansere-Bio, Social Development Manager of the PMGL, said the company has set up a Community Development Fund to help meet its social and corporate responsibility and that an initial amount of GH¢750,000.00 has been earmarked for the purpose.

Source: GNA