CSOs condemn Newmont Ghana over destruction of farms in Ahafo
The CSOs are the Centre for Environmental Impact Analysis, Center for Public Interest Law, the Wassa Association of Communities Affected by Mining (WACAM) and A Rocha Ghana
Four civil society organisations (CSOs) have condemned Newmont Ghana over the alleged destruction of farms and the subsequent detention of some farmers at its Ahafo operation in the Bono Region.
The CSOs are the Centre for Environmental Impact Analysis, Center for Public Interest Law, the Wassa Association of Communities Affected by Mining (WACAM) and A Rocha Ghana.
A joint statement issued by the CSOs said the farmers were arrested and detained by the police for protecting their farm properties from destruction by Newmont, adding that it is a violation of their rights.
“On Wednesday 6th September, 2023, about 12:30 pm, four community people from Terchire belonging to the Concerned Farmer’s Association, Terchire, Ahafo Region were arrested and detained by the Tano North District Police for protecting their farm properties from destruction by Newmont,” the statement said.
“The four-community people on a visit to their farm noticed that John Mensah, the Chairman of the Concerned Farmers Association’s farm was being destroyed by workers or agents of Newmont. In the act of protecting Mr Mensah’s farm from destruction, the farmers were arrested on the farm by the Tano North District Police.”
“The company within the months of July, August and September 2023 had entered the lands of farmers and unlawfully destroyed the farmers farm properties without the consent of the owners or negotiating payment of compensation for their farm properties. The destroyed properties comprise teak trees, cocoa farms, palm trees and food crops belong to John Mensah, Beatrice Mensah, Yaw Paul Asare, Abraham Amo, Silas Adjei Mensah, Gabriel Kofi Nelson, Abubakar Sadick and Emmanuel Kwame Marfo. These farms serve as the main source of livelihood for these farmers,” it added.
Below is the full statement:
Reporting by Fred Dzakpata in Accra
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