Farmers Demand Compensation, Reject Newmont’s Speculative’ Tag
By Philip Antoh
Farmers under the Concerned Farmers Association of Afrisipakrom, Terchire, Susuanso and Adrobaa have demanded immediate payment of compensation for structures on their lands, which the state compulsorily acquired in 2024 for Newmont’s Ahafo North mining project.
The farmers have also dismissed a petition by Newmont to the Lands Commission describing those structures as “speculative.”
Addressing the media at Terchire on Monday, November 2, the Chairman of the Association, John Mensah, said the press briefing was organised to draw public attention to the delays by the Land Valuation Division of the Lands Commission in paying compensation for structures on the lands of 21 of its members acquired for the project.
He said the Association also convened the media to respond to Newmont’s petition to the Lands Commission.
“We reject this claim. We are concerned that this petition is delaying the payment of compensation by the Lands Commission for our structures under compulsory acquisition E.I. 273 of 2024,” he said.
“Our Structures Are Not Speculative”
Mr Mensah insisted the farmers’ properties are legitimate under both mining laws and the Land Act.
“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 stated.
The Acquisitions
The Chairman explained that the Government compulsorily acquired the affected lands through two Executive Instruments (E.I.s) — the official documents through which the State acquired the lands for Newmont’s Ahafo North project in the Tano North Municipality of the Ahafo Region.
“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 Afrisipakrom, Terchire, Susuanso and Adrobaa,” he said.
He added that there is a separate group of farmers whose lands and properties were taken under E.I. 356 of 2023 and who, to date, have received no compensation at all.
Mr Mensah recounted that in December 2023, when the State took possession of the lands covered by the first acquisition, the properties on them were destroyed, leaving affected families little opportunity to remove their belongings or salvage what 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.
Structures Jointly Recorded and Valued
Mr Mensah outlined the process through which the structures were handled. According to him, under 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 stated.
He said the field enumeration records were submitted to the Lands Commission, and the properties recorded during the joint exercise were identified 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,” he disclosed.
Mr Mensah further revealed that after almost two years since the second acquisition, the Lands Commission, through its Valuation Technical Committee, approved compensation amounts for the 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.
That obstacle, according to him, was Newmont’s petition describing the structures on the lands as “speculative.”
The Farmers’ Demands
Mr Mensah said the Association wants the Lands Commission to resolve the outstanding issues without further delay and pay compensation for all its structures under E.I. 273.
He also called for urgent payment to members affected by E.I. 356, who have received nothing since their properties were taken almost three years ago.
“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 demanded.
“Fulfil Your Duty”
Mr Mensah reminded the Commission of its legal obligation under the Land Act, which requires the Lands Commission, acting through the Land Valuation Division, to assess compensation when government acquires land, and to ensure that such compensation is prompt, fair and adequate.
He said the Association has done everything required of it.
“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.
“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,” Mr Mensah concluded.