Farmers whose lands and properties were acquired for Newmont Ghana Gold Ltd’s Ahafo North mining project are demanding urgent payment of compensation, saying years of delays have deprived their families of their main sources of income and left many struggling to meet basic needs.
The affected farmers, drawn from Afrispakrom, Terchire, Susuanso and Adrobaa in the Tano North Municipality of the Ahafo Region, say they have yet to receive compensation for farms, crops and structures taken over by the state for the mining project.
The Concerned Farmers Association says the prolonged delay has caused significant financial hardship, with some members dying while awaiting compensation and others struggling to afford medical care.
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The dispute centres on two compulsory land acquisitions under Executive Instruments (E.I.) 356 of 2023 and E.I. 273 of 2024, as well as a petition by Newmont challenging compensation for structures belonging to 21 affected farmers.
The farmers say the Lands Commission approved compensation for lands, crops and structures affected by the second acquisition in April 2026, but payment remains outstanding following Newmont’s petition questioning the eligibility of some structures.
In a press statement, the association said the Lands Commission, through its Valuation Technical Committee, approved compensation amounts in a letter dated April 13, 2026. Their lawyers and valuers subsequently accepted the amounts in a letter dated April 24.
However, the farmers said they received a letter from the Lands Commission on June 9, 2026, informing them that Newmont had petitioned the Commission to exclude structures belonging to 21 members from compensation on grounds that they were speculative.
Newmont reportedly relied on provisions of the Minerals and Mining Act and an alleged 2017 cut-off date under mining regulations to challenge the claims.
The farmers have rejected the company’s position, arguing that the government acquired their lands under the Land Act, 2020 (Act 1036), rather than through the compensation process under the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703).
They contend that the two legal frameworks have different provisions for determining compensation and that the structures should be assessed under the law governing the compulsory acquisition.
The association also argues that the structures were jointly inspected, counted and recorded in 2024 by representatives of Newmont, the Lands Commission and the affected farmers, with the resulting records signed by the relevant parties.
It said the structures were identified during the exercise as qualifying for compensation and should therefore be considered in determining the outstanding payments.
Dispute over acquisition and compensation
The government acquired the first tranche of the affected lands under E.I. 356, issued on September 29, 2023, and the second under E.I. 273, issued on July 15, 2024.
According to the association, properties on lands covered by the first acquisition were destroyed when the state took possession in December 2023, leaving affected farmers without adequate opportunity to salvage their belongings.
Following disagreements over the first acquisition, the then Minister for Lands and Natural Resources established a committee comprising traditional authorities, representatives of state institutions, lawyers for the farmers and Newmont to facilitate discussions and avoid another compulsory acquisition.
The committee supervised a joint exercise to inspect and document affected crops and structures. The association said the exercise was completed with the participation of the company and the relevant state agencies.
However, it alleges that Newmont did not make itself available for subsequent negotiations on compensation, after which the government proceeded with the second compulsory acquisition.
While the compensation dispute under E.I. 273 concerns the classification of some structures, the association says a separate group of farmers affected by E.I. 356 has received no compensation for their acquired lands and properties.
The farmers are therefore calling on the Lands Commission to independently resolve the outstanding claims, pay the approved compensation under E.I. 273 and expedite payments to those affected by the 2023 acquisition.
They are also demanding a written explanation of outstanding issues and a definite payment schedule.
Newmont’s position
Newmont’s petition, as outlined by the farmers, raises questions about the eligibility of some structures for compensation, particularly in relation to the alleged 2017 cut-off date under mining regulations.
The company is the beneficiary of the compulsory acquisition, while the Lands Commission is responsible for assessing compensation under the land acquisition process.
The farmers, however, argue that Newmont’s challenge should not undermine the Commission’s independent responsibility to determine compensation in accordance with the applicable law.
Newmont’s detailed explanation of the petition, the basis for the alleged cut-off date and its response to the farmers’ claims were not included in the association’s statement.
