INTERNATIONAL mining firm Newmont Corporation said it would pay a total of 45 million Ghana cedis or ($5.2 million) as compensation for some unauthorised structures on its new mining concession in Ghana, a statement has said.
The joint statement issued by Newmont and the Ghanaian government said the compensation was for removing more than 8,000 structures from the $850 million Ahafo-North concession.
‘The agreed one-off payments will promote community peace and security for the Ahafo North Project,’ said George Mireku Duker, Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, who led the government’s team to negotiate the compensations.
Duker cautioned that the government would not tolerate any further development of unauthorised structures on the concession because that would adversely affect company-community relations and discourage mining investments in the country.
The government of Ghana tasked an inter-agency committee led by the deputy minister of lands and natural resources responsible for mining to negotiate with Newmont Ghana on compensations for removing the structures on its mining concession.
‘The company is committed to collaborating with the government, our host communities and other stakeholders to ensure the Ahafo-North project creates sustainable value along with opportunities for all stakeholders,’ said David Thornton, Regional Senior Vice President, Newmont Africa Operations.
He thanked the Ghanaian government, the traditional authorities in the mining communities, and other stakeholders for their collaboration on agreeing to a long-term sustainable outcome to commence sustainable development of the Ahafo North Project.
The Board of Directors of Newmont Corporation approved full funds for Ahafo- North Project in July 2021.
