Prestea-Obouho Chief Commends Swed Mining Firm For Successful Payment Of Compensation to Farmers

Chief of Prestea-Obouho community under the Wassa Fiase Traditional Area in Prestea Huni-Valley Municipality of the Western Region, Nana Abotsi IV, has commended the management of Swed Mining Company Limited for spearheading successful payment of crops compensation packages to the first batch of five of eleven (11) farmers who were adversely impacted in the company's Bondae gold mining project.

He indicated that despite the numerous challenges encountered, including the uncertainties around with coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, the gold mining company instituted effective and efficient structures which resulted in a number of successful initiatives including resettlement and payment of compensation packages to affected farmers within the buffer zones of the mine intakes.

He asserted that although the payment has delayed, he was full of joy that the company has kept its promises to the affected farmers which have gone a long way to promote peace in the area.

Nana Abotsi IV who doubles as the Head of Stool Father (Dzasetse) for Abinto Divisional Council in the Wassa Fiase Traditional Area, speaking in an interview with Soireenews implored the company to continue to pursue decisive efforts to ensure that the next four remaining farmers were equally and dully compensated.

The traditional office holder stressed the need for the company to continue its good works and be guided by the Mining and Minerals laws and its faith and values, adding that the company should continue to show serious concern for the safety of the people in its operating communities.

According to the chief, so far the gold mining companies which are currently operating on their land of the Prestea-Obouho community are two and invited more strategic mining investors to come and do business with them since there is an abundance of free litigation mining lands in their area.

On the lands of Abinto Divisional Area, Nana Abotsi IV pointed out that the mining companies which are doing prospecting mining are the Ashanti Goldfields, AngloGold Ashanti Nsuta GMC, boasting that the Abinto is a leading community that holds a lot of mining companies because of peaceful coexistence among the people and investors in the area.

"I want to state on records that l didn't know any Divisional council which generally holds mining companies than that of Abinto Divisional Council in the Western Region," the chief further reaffirmed.

'We the traditional authorities in the area want to assure you of our steadfast support toward making you succeed in your gold mining operations on our land,” Nana Abotsi further assured.

According to the chief, the traditional authorities in the area would work to ensure that the operations of the  company didn't affect the livelihoods of the people in the Prestea-Obouho community and its surrounding environs 

It would be recalled that the mining company on Wednesday, May 12, 2021, according to the payment invoices document, paid the compensation packages to the farmers on behalf of Longshine Mining Ghana Limited which is the concession owner of the Bondae gold mining project.

According to top officials of Longshine Mining Ghana Limited, who spoke on strict condition of anonymity, they believe strongly that Swed Mining Company Limited will pay the next four remaining affected farmers before the end of May 2021.

According to them, arrangements for payment arrived after the company had effectively engaged with the affected cash crop farmers in Prestea-Obouho to verify affected crops.

Prior to the arrangement for the payment, they said a meeting was held on Thursday, April 1, 2021, which was attended by the gold mining concession owners of the company and some affected crop farmers including some key stakeholders in the area.

Freeman Koryekpor Awlesu Greater Accra Regional Correspondent