Management of multinational gold mining company operating in Ayanfuri- Kakrayebedie community in Esuajah South in the Central Region, Perseus Mining Ghana Limited (PMGL), have disclosed that the resettlement housing units are hundred per cent ready at Ayanfuri new resettlement site to be occupied soon by inhabitants of the six out of eight households who were affected by the underground gold mining activities of the company. 

The management of the company indicated that the first batch of 40 households were resettled in August 2020, adding that the five (5) of the households initially signed the resettlement agreements and the company went ahead to build their structures but subsequently decided not to be resettled.

They mentioned that the five beneficiary residents are Mr Abdulai Abdulai (Abudu), Mr Seidu Braimah, Mr Emmanuel Kusaasi, Madam Vida Donkor, Madam Faustina Boadi. 

And as for the shop, they noted that the owner who is Linda Boaduwaa has not signed the resettlement agreement because her father who is Mr Alex Bimpong and one other Mr Moses Akomaning Agyapong are refusing to agree to it.

According to the Senior Lands Access Officer of PMGL, Mr Bernard Kwabena Adjei, the soon to be resettled residents of the six households were among the eight households who were the last batch of the residents at Ayanfuri- Kakrayebedie to be relocated to the Ayanfuri new site.

Interestingly, Mr Adjei pointed out that those residents were generally deceived by the chairman of the association of mining affected residents in Ayanfuri- Kakrayebedie, Mr Alex Bimpong not to go at that material time which situation has compunded the delay of their resettlement processes.

He said that the traditional leaders, Assemblyman, Minerals Commission representative, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA),  Mr Alex Bimpong’s Lawyer have all tried to resolve the disputes but Mr Bimpong, in particular, is not helping disclosing that the gold mining company has tabled options for the households to choose from but they are refusing. 

"They have the notion that if they are living there the mining cannot go on hence the need to frustrate the Company," he stated.

Mr Bimpong, according to Mr Adjei claimed that PMGL wanted to cheat them by way of building sub-standard houses for them of which Mr Adjei said that assertion is not true and that the resettlement houses being built in Ayanfuri is second to none.

Mr Adjei disclosed this in an interview with Soireenews.com when he was reacting to the recent media reports which suggested that the company has taken bilateral decision to dismantle the mechanised borehole drinking water facility built for the residents in Ayanfuri-Kakrayebedie community.

He pointed out that the news items was not the true reflection on the ground and taken a swipe at the residents for publicly peddling falsehoods against the company which has been working hard to improve the living of its host communities.

Mr Adjei disclosed that since the company took over the land at Ayanfuri-Kakrayebedie community which was in company’s mine-take, they declared a moratorium in the area and the impacted properties were negotiated and adequate and fair compensations were paid as enshrined in the Minerals and Mining laws.

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He pointed out that the buildings constructed by the company for the affected residents were based on the Resettlement Package Agreement by the members of the Resettlement Compensation Negotiation Committee (RCNC) including affected residents, Ayanfuri Traditional Authorities, the District Assembly personnel and Valuers. 

And he stressed that it is a fact that the buildings are of best qualities or best standards thereby making them better off than their previous building structures at Ayamfuri-Kakrayebedie community.

For his part, when contacted by the Soireenews.com, the Director of Sustainability for PMGL, Mr Edwin Acquaye, described the allegations levelled against the company as factually incorrect, saying that they were disappointed and disagree with the residents over the allegations since some representatives of the affected people were actively consulted and involved in the discussion of the resettlement criteria, housing provisions and designs, resettlement layout plan and community infrastructure as proposed and finalised by the RCNC.

Mr Acquaye noted that the company being the law-abiding multinational gold mining firm has successfully built and resettled the first batch of a total of two hundred (200) housing units of some three communities within the Ayanfuri township to the Ayanfuri resettlement site who are currently living good or better.

He pointed out that these disgruntled residents were being influenced by Mr Bimpong to make such disparaging remarks against the company just to tarnish its image.

He added that the company has duly paid their crops compensation including payments of other building structures which are incomplete as was agreed by the Resettlement Compensation Negotiation Committee.

Describing the actions of the residents as a double standard, he provided the documentary evidence of the Resettlement Packages Agreement between the residents and Company to support their claims that indeed the Company has done the right thing under the provision of the Minerals and Mining laws and regulations.

Stressing the enforcement of effective implementation of the Minerals and Mining laws and regulations by the gold mining company in its host communities including Esuajah South area ( Kakrayebedie) Mr Acquaye noted that the building designs for the residents to be resettled or those already resettled are in conformity with applicable Ghana Planning Regulations and Building Regulations.

On the issue of Mr Moses Agyapong, Mr Acquaye said he told the company that he wants cash compensation in lieu of resettlement. 

According to him, the company is willing to negotiate with him to pay a fair and adequate compensation but he is not willing to sit down with the company, the development has delayed for the company to pay his cash compensation.

He stated that the company would not do anything untoward to abuse the fundamental human rights of the residents in its gold mining host community.

He entreated the affected residents who are yet to be resettled to be calmed and assured the company’s commitment and readiness to continue to engage them to ensure they are duly resettled.

Freeman Koryekpor Awlesu Greater Accra Regional Chief Correspondent