Kenyasi No 2(Brong Ahafo), 17 March '99 -

About three billion cedis has been paid as compensation to farmers whose lands have been affected through the operations of La Source Development, a French gold mining company in the Asutifi and Tano districts of the Brong Ahafo Region. Mr Chick Senayah, site manager of the company, made this known to Mr Donald Adabre, Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, during a visit to the company as part of a familiarisation tour of the Asutifi District. He mentioned farmers at Techire, Adobaa, Yamfo, Kenyasi Number One and Two and Ntotroso as those who had so far benefited from the compensation package. Briefing the minister about the operations of the company, the senior geologist, Mr Joseph Collins, told Mr Adabre that the company was now assessing the economic viability of gold deposits in the 70 kilometre stretch from Techire in the Tano district to Ayomso in the Asutifi district. Mr Collins expressed optimism that the company would soon complete its exploratory adventures to enable it to embark on full-scale mining to provide employment for the people in the area. Mr Kelvin Hughes, Health/Safety Environmental Manager, said the necessary steps have been adopted to ensure that the company's operations do not affect the environment or the health of the people. Mr Adabre commended the company for its operations so far and urged its management to ensure a good rapport between it and the local people to forestall agitations.