Assembly and unit committee members around the Newmont Ahafo North project enclave of the Newmont Ghana Gold Limited (NGGL) in the Ahafo region have called on farmers whose properties have been affected by the mine to resolve all differences and allow the company to effect payment compensation.

At a news conference held at Afrisipakrom, a mining community in the Tano North Municipality, the Assembly members noted that a lot of progress had been made so far for the company to compensate the farmers and residents whose properties had been directly or indirectly affected by the mine.

"We are happy to say that there have been a lot of progress, but there still continues to be some challenges that confront  the Newmont Ahafo North project, notably among them is refusal of some individuals granting access to their farms and properties for compensation ", they stated.

The coalition of Ahafo North youth, a group comprising Youth Association in Yamfo, Terchire, Adrobaa, Susuanso and Afrisipakrom, which are the five major communities around the Newmont Ahafo North project in the municipality, organized the press Conference.

"Much as we understand that it is within the individual's rights, it is also concern if it inhibits the collective progress of the Ahafo North project and it's benefits to the local communities and the youth", Mr. Richard Addai Yeboah, the spokesman for the coalition indicated.

Mr Yeboah, who is also the chairman of the Techire Youth Association regretted that "majority of the affected farmers were ready to receive  their share of the crop compensation after successfully going through negotiation with Newmont, but few of the farmers are dragging the issue at court".

Source: Ghana/Sompaonline.com/K. peprah