Ghana National Gas Company has carried out another batch of crop compensation payments to project-affected farmers along the 111 km Right of Way of the onshore pipeline from Atuabo to Aboadze under the Western Corridor Gas Infrastructure Development Project.

The event was held at the Agona Nkwanta offices of the Ghana Rubber Out-growers Association.

Thirty-eight rubber farmers were presented with cheques covering the cost of rubber plantations cleared to make way for construction of the onshore pipeline. This brings to 2,361, the number of persons who have been compensated so far. Over the next few days, 80 additional farmers, whose crop enumeration forms (Form F) are currently being processed, will also receive their cheques, marking the final payment of crop compensations.

Commenting on the compensation exercise, the Chief Executive Officer of Ghana Gas, Dr. George Sipa-Adjah Yankey, expressed satisfaction at the progress made to settle affected farmers.

He commended the farmers and all who had worked tirelessly to ensure affected persons were duly settled. “We are proud of this achievement; it is in line with our commitment to fully compensate all persons whose crops or structures have been destroyed to pave the way for development of the gas project,” he added. Peter Osabutey, a rubber farmer from Axim who was compensated, expressed profound gratitude to Ghana Gas for honouring its word.

He urged his fellow farmers to invest the funds wisely and to continue supporting projects that will bring development to their communities.

A total of GH¢8,134,747 has been disbursed as compensation to project-affected persons. All compensation claims were authenticated through an enumeration and valuation process carried out by the Land Valuation Division of the Lands Commission prior to payment.

Affected crops for which farmers were compensated included rubber plantations, cassava, plantain, coconut and oil palm.

Ghana Gas is a limited liability company owned by the Government of Ghana. It is tasked with the responsibility to build, own and operate infrastructure -- The Western Corridor Gas Infrastructure Project --required for gathering, processing, transporting and marketing of natural gas resources in the country.