Tetrem (Ash), April 13, GNA--The Bonte Gold Mine Company at Tetrem in the Amansie-West District, paid 1.2 billion cedis as compensation to farmers in its operation area last year.

The compensation was to cover crop loss as a result of the mining activities of the company. Mr Douglas Mills, the operations manager, said the company had embarked on a programme to reclaim mined lands to enable the farmers to undertake their farming activities.

Mr Mills announced this when he briefed the Minister of Environment, Science and Technology, Mr Cletus Avoka on the operations of the company, when he paid a visit to the mines at Tetrem.

He told the Minister that a total of 67,000 trees have been planted in the area since the company commenced operations in 1992. The company also extended electricity from its mining site to Aboabo-Tetekasum and Tetrem villages while it supplied electric transformers and 35 electricity poles to Mpatuom, Essuowin, Ahwerewa and Esaase-Manhyia.

Mr Avoka expressed satisfaction with the degree of the company's commitment towards land reclamation and rejuvenation of the vegetation and urged them not to relent in their efforts at ensuring sound environmental practices in their mining operations.