Ahafo North Mine: Displaced Farmers Demand Overdue Compensation, Reject Newmont’s ‘Speculative’ Claim

Displaced farmers whose lands were acquired for Newmont’s Ahafo North gold mine have issued a stern demand for the Lands Commission to immediately disburse long-delayed compensation payments. The group has also firmly rejected Newmont’s petition to label 21 members’ structures as “speculative.”

The Concerned Farmers Association—representing landowners across Terchire, Afrisipakrom, Susuanso, and Adrobaa in the Tano North Municipality of the Ahafo Region—voiced their grievances during a heated press conference held in Terchire.

Years of Waiting and Financial Hardship

Representing the affected families, 97-year-old Maame Serwaa shared her plight with the Ghana News Agency, revealing that roughly 155 acres of her farm, featuring mature oil palm and teak plantations, were taken without any financial recompense.

“We have no means of feeding our families, paying our children’s school fees as well as paying our medical bills,” Maame Serwaa said, issuing a direct plea to President John Dramani Mahama to intervene. Poultry farmer Asibi echoed similar frustrations, confirming she is still awaiting payment for her confiscated land.

The land acquisitions stem from two Executive Instruments: E.I. 356 (issued September 29, 2023) and E.I. 273 (issued July 15, 2024).

• Under E.I. 356: Farmers state they have received nothing since state actors moved onto their properties in December 2023, destroying crops and livelihoods. Association Chairman John Mensah noted that approximately 84 farmers remain unpaid under this instrument alone.

• Under E.I. 273: Although the Lands Commission’s Valuation Technical Committee approved the payout sums on April 13, 2026, and legal teams signed off on April 24, the funds have yet to be released.

The Dispute Over “Speculative” Structures

A major point of contention centers around a petition filed by Newmont in June 2026, urging the Lands Commission to withhold compensation for 21 structures by classifying them as speculative.

Newmont’s petition relies on a 2017 cut-off date tied to the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703), under which the company previously argued that any buildings erected after its initial mining zone declaration were unauthorized.

However, the farmers argue that the legal framework shifted when the state abandoned mining law negotiations in favor of compulsory acquisition under the Land Act, 2020 (Act 1036).

“Under the Land Act, Act 1036, a property is described as speculative when improvements are made after the Government publishes its notice to acquire the land. It makes no reference to an alleged mining cut-off date,” Mensah emphasized.

Furthermore, the association points out that these disputed structures were officially documented and counted during a 2024 joint inspection overseen by a Ministerial Committee, with records signed by the farmers, the Land Valuation Division, and a Newmont representative.

“Newmont is the beneficiary of the acquisition. It is not the State,” Mensah added, arguing that the Lands Commission must exercise independent judgment rather than deferring to the mining firm.

Response and Demands

When contacted by JoyNews, Newmont declined to comment on the farmers’ claims, and 3News noted a lack of public response from the Lands Commission.

The Concerned Farmers Association has outlined strict demands moving forward:

1. The immediate dismissal of Newmont’s petition regarding the 21 structures.

2. The swift release of approved funds under E.I. 273.

3. Accelerated processing and settlement for farmers affected under E.I. 356.

4. A formal, written timetable outlining when full compensation will be delivered.

With several members reportedly falling ill or passing away while awaiting resolution, the association stresses that time is running out. “These are not just files on a desk of the Lands Commission,” Mensah said. “They concern our health, food, shelter, families and livelihoods.”