New Abirem, March 29, GNA - Newmont Ghana had reiterated its commitment to act with integrity, trust and respect, and in ways consistent with its social responsibilities, values and policies. In implementing its commitment, the company assured all individuals with farms and immovable property, which will be impacted by its Akyem Project that they would be duly compensated consistent with the express provision in the Minerals and Mining Laws and relevant provision in the constitution of Ghana.

These were contained in a statement issued at New Abirem, in the Birim North District and signed by Mr Oduro Kwarteng Marfo, Manager, Communication, Newmont Golden Ridge Limited, Akyem Project. The statement said Newmont's attention had been drawn to a number of grievances expressed recently by several community members of the Akyem Project, which were published in sections of the media. The statement said a mining area was declared in late January which required boundary demarcation and some farmers' crops were impacted. "Crops affected by the boundary demarcation activities were inventoried".

The statement said however farmers had not been compensated as the priority was to demarcate the mining area boundary. "Newmont is currently engaged with the affected farmers to verify affected crops and would pay compensation as the process of counting is completed."

"We are compensating at the 2009 rate and when the 2010 rate are agreed, we would make retro-active payment for the 2009-2010 increases." The statement said there was an established 66- member Compensation Negotiation Committee (CNC) in place in Akyem that had the mandate of the communities in the project area to negotiate compensation on crops, immovable properties and land deprivation, and resettlement issues, with advice and support from a team of professional valuers. "That negotiation forum had been the accepted process for negotiations at least since 2003 in Akyem."

"The committee comprises elected community representatives validated by project affected farmers, relevant government regulation agencies, such as the Land Valuation Division, Office of the Administrator of Stool Land, the Birim North District Assembly, Social Welfare, and Ministry of Food and Agriculture among other key agencies.

The company urged all affected farmers to continue to come to them directly with their complaints and grievances as had always been the case for amicably settlement through agreed upon formal process. 29 March 10