Tarkwa (W/R) June 23 GNA - A sod has been cut at Wassa Akyempim to mark the beginning of construction of 54 houses at a resettlement site for the people of Akosombo, near Daboase in the Wassa Mpohor East District. Wexford Goldfields Limited (WGL) is undertaking the project at a cost of 5.6 billion cedis. The project would house 210 people and is scheduled to be completed in September 2006.

The resettlement became necessary because the present site of Akosombo is too close to the tailings dam of the Mine. Addressing the gathering, Mr Anthony Evans Amoa, Western Regional Minister, said the lack of consultation between mining companies and communities bred suspicion. He said constant dialogue and consultations between mining companies and the communities would reduce tension within mining areas.

Mr Amoa urged the companies to embark on development projects for the immediate communities and said the dream of developing the area would come to fruition only when the stakeholders worked in concert with the Company. He appealed to the contractors to work within the time frame given. Nana Kwame Andoh II, Acting Manponso Divisional Chief, said mining operations carried in its wake both benefits and problems. He said there should be a constant effort to sustain the benefits and to find solutions to problems that would be encountered in the process of mining.

Nana Andoh mentioned extension of electricity to Akeympim and its surrounding communities; renovation and construction of schools and a Police Station as some of the projects the Company had provided for the communities. He said confrontation would not solve any problem but dialogue and mutual agreement would pave the way for solving problems, saying not everybody would be employed by the Company, yet because of its existence small businesses would flourish.

Earlier in a welcoming address Mr Richard Gray, General Manager of WGL, said in drawing up the resettlement plan, WGL engaged the communities and indigenous people through the resettlement committee to show WGL's conviction that the participation of local communities was critical to business success. He said WGL had paid about 212 million cedis as compensation to those whose farmlands were taken over for the project.

Mr Gray thanked the members of the Committee, made up of representatives from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); Mines Department; Chiefs; Assembly Members; Town and Country Planning and Opinion Leaders, who worked tirelessly to make the project a success. He said WGL had contracted the Town and Country Planning Department to undertake a survey and re-zoning of the Akyempim Township, adding, this would give the town a face-lift and ensure proper layout of buildings and pavements. "As partners in development, we look forward to the chiefs and people in our catchment communities to team up with us as responsible citizens of the community to move the development agenda forward". Mr Gray said.