Swed Mining Pay Crops Compensation to first Batch of Farmers

There was a joyful atmosphere at Prestea- Obouho, farming cocoa growing community under the Wassa Fiase Traditional Area in Prestea Huni-Valley Municipality of the Western Region on Wednesday, May 12, 2021.

This was as a result of the recent decision by the management of Swed Mining Company Limited to equally pay the crops compensation packages to the first batch of the five of eleven (11) farmers who were negatively impacted in the company's Bondae gold mining project area.

The mining company on Wednesday, May 12, 2021, according to the payment invoices document in possession of the news outlet paid the compensation packages to the farmers on behalf of the Longshine Mining Ghana Limited which is the concession owner of the Bondae gold mining project.

According to the top officials of Longshine Mining Ghana Limited, they believed strongly that the Swed Mining Company Limited would likely pay the next four remaining affected farmers before the end of May 2021.

Speaking in an interview via telephone call on Thursday with the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Longshine Mining Ghana Limited, Mr Dotse Domenotey pointed out that the company is committed to ensuring transparency, probability and accountability in the payment of the crops compensation package to the farmers.

According to Mr Domenotey, the safety of people in their mining operating communities, particularly the people in Prestea-Obouho was a key priority.

He indicated that since its commercial operations in the country, the Swed Mining Company Limited has shown great concern about the safety of people in its operating community.

In order to ensure transparent, probability and accountability in the payment of the compensation packages to the affected farmers, Mr Domenotey reaffirmed that the company has officially informed the state mining regulatory institutions in the area including the chiefs, Assembly members, key stakeholders, top officials of Prestea- Huni-Valley District Assembly, BNI officer of the area.

According to him, the arrangements for payment arrived after the company has effectively engaged with the affected cash crop farmers in the Prestea-Obouho community to verify affected crops and have agreed to pay compensation as the processes of counting losses were completed.

Prior to the arrangement for the payment, he reiterated that 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.

He stated that since the company has completed the assessment for each farm that has been impacted by its Bondae mining project activities" we have decided to pay out compensation on a negotiation basis."

Mr Domenotey on behalf of the  Swed Mining Company Limited reiterated its commitment to act with integrity, trust and respect, and in ways consistent with "our social responsibility values and policies."

In implementing their commitment, he noted that the company assures all individuals with farms and immovable properties, which have or will be impacted by its Bondae mining project that they will be duly compensated consistent with the express provisions in the Minerals and Mining Law and relevant provisions in the Constitution of Ghana.

Mr Demonotey indicated the company readiness and commitment to continue to show serious concern about the safety of people in its operating community.

He assured that the company would demonstrate its commitment to ensuring that the next four remaining farmers are equally and dully received their compensation packages.

Freeman Koryekpor Awlesu