{
  "id": 18128733,
  "title": "Farmers fight Lands Commission, Newmont for delayed compensation over Ahafo North Mines Project",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/04/farmers-fight-lands-commission-newmont-for-delayed-compensation-over",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-04T13:48:17.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "MyJoyOnline Ghana",
    "slug": "myjoyonline-ghana",
    "url": "https://www.myjoyonline.com/farmers-fight-lands-commission-newmont-for-delayed-compensation-over-ahafo-north-mines-project/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Concerned Farmers Association in Tano North, Ghana, is demanding immediate compensation from the Land Valuation Division of the Lands Commission for lands, crops, and farm structures acquired for Newmont Ghana Gold Ltd's Ahafo North mining project. The Association argues that Newmont incorrectly classified farm structures as \"speculative\" to prevent payment under Executive Instrument (E.I.) 273 of 2024. The farmers' leaders expressed concern over the ongoing plight of those affected by a previous compulsory acquisition under E.I. 356 of 2023, which occurred three years after state authorities seized their lands and demolished their properties without compensation. At the heart of the dispute is the legal framework used for land acquisition and property evaluation. Newmont submitted a petition to the Lands Commission in June 2026, claiming that structures belonging to 21 farmers should be exempt from compensation based on a 2017 cut-off date under the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703). However, the farmers contend that Newmont's petition uses an invalid legal basis, as the Lands Act, 2020 (Act 1036) states that improvements to land are only speculative if erected after the notice of acquisition is published. All contested structures were inspected, counted, and verified during a 2024 joint exercise overseen by a Ministerial Committee, with all valuation records formally signed by representatives of the Land Valuation Division, affected farmers, and Newmont. The farmers' team accepted the compensation figures on April 24, 2026. Despite this, the Association is still awaiting payment under E.I. 273 of 2024 and a full payment for the E.I. 356 of 2023 claims, which were issued on September 29, 2023, and resulted in the seizure of lands on December 2023. John Mensah, the Association's Chairman, emphasized that Newmont should not be responsible for determining and paying compensation, as it is the responsibility of the Lands Commission.",
  "summary": "The Concerned Farmers Association of Afrispakrom, Terchire, Susuanso, and Adrobaa in the Tano North Municipality of the Ahafo region has called on the Land Valuation Division of the Lands Commission to immediately pay all outstanding compensation for lands, crops, and farm structures acquired for Newmont Ghana Gold Ltd’s Ahafo North mining project.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}