The Concerned Farmers Association of Afrisipakrom, Terchire, Susuanso and Adrobaa has called on the Land Valuation Division of the Land’s Commission to resolve outstanding issues without further delay and pay compensation for all structures under E.I. 273 of 2024.
This follows Newmont’s petition dated June 9, 2026, describing structures of 21 members of the Association as “speculative.”
“We reject this claim. Our structures are not speculative under either the mining laws or the Land Act,” the Chairman of the Association, John Mensah, said at a press conference at Terchire in the Tano North Municipality, Ahafo Region on Monday, November 2.
“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 indicated.
He noted the structures were jointly inspected and signed for by farmers, Newmont officials and Lands Commission officers in 2024, and compensation was approved by the Commission’s Valuation Technical Committee on April 13, 2026, and accepted by farmers on April 24, 2026.
Joint Inspection and Approval
According to Mr Mensah, the joint exercise was supervised by a Ministerial Committee chaired by the then Deputy Executive Secretary of the Lands Commission. The structure records were signed by the affected farmer, the surveyor, representatives of the Land Valuation Division, a representative of the Resettlement Negotiation Committee and a Newmont representative.
State Used Land Act, Not Mining Act
The Chairman said Government compulsorily acquired their lands through two Executive Instruments – E.I. 356 of September 29, 2023 and E.I. 273 of July 15, 2024, for Newmont’s Ahafo North mining project.
He argued that while Government had earlier granted Newmont a concession under the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006, Act 703, it later used the Land Act, 2020, Act 1036 to compulsorily acquire the lands and therefore Newmont cannot return to the mining law and an alleged 2017 cut-off date to challenge payment.
“Under the Land Act, Act 1036, a property is described as speculative when improvements are made after the Government publishes its notice to acquire the land. It makes no reference to an alleged mining cut-off date,” he said.
No Compensation For E.I. 356 Victims
Mr Mensah said beyond E.I. 273, members affected by E.I. 356 of 2023 have received no compensation at all since the State took possession in December 2023.”In December 2026, it will be three years since the State took possession of their properties. Their lands have been taken, their properties destroyed and their sources of income lost. Yet they are still waiting for compensation,” he said.
“We ask the Land Valuation Division of the Lands Commission responsible: how would you feel if the State did not pay your salaries for three years?”
“There is also the separate case of other farmers whose lands and properties were taken under E.I. 356 of 2023. Those members have received no compensation at all,” he added.
Call For Timetable and Independent Action
Mr Mensah therefore called on the Commission to urgently pay members affected by E.I. 356, and to give a clear written explanation of any outstanding issues with a definite timetable for payment.
“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. The Commission must exercise its own judgment independently,” he noted.
He said some members have died and others are very ill while waiting, adding: “These are not just files on a desk of the Lands Commission. They concern our health, food, shelter, families and livelihoods,” he indicated.
