The Ghana Gas Company (Ghana Gas) will, from today, begin the payment of compensation to affected crop farmers in 23 communities along the Esiama-Prestea Lateral line in the Western Region.
About GH¢7.8 million will be paid as part of the compensation package for crops belonging to about 800 project-affected farmers.
The beneficiary communities are Prestea, Banaho, Gwira Bibini Nsuaem, Kutokrom, Mbease Nsuta, Anyinam, Bondae and Ahomkakrom.
The others are Abrodiem, Wiawso, Esamzam, Ma Nyame Hunu, Bokazo, Krobo Junction, Eshiem, Tumentu, Dwira and Semtum.
The rest are Assuawaah, Angedware, Atabobo, Aluka, Teleku Bokazo and Esiama.
A statement signed and issued by the company’s Corporate Affairs Manager, Mr Alfred Ogbamey, in Accra, urged claimants to present the appropriate documents to the various designated points for payments to be effected.
Procedures for crops compensation
According to the statement, claimants were to present the original Form F issued to them by the Lands Valuation Division (LVD) during the enumeration of the crops.
“Payment will only be effected upon receipt of the Form F, which will be used as evidence of the entitlement of the claimant to the compensation,” it stressed.
It asserted that all claimants around the Esiama end would have their compensation claims handled at the Essiama Palace, whereas those around the Prestea end of the line would have their claims handled at the Anyinam Community Centre.
The statement reiterated that whereas compensation for lands compulsorily acquired for the Western Corridor Gas Infrastructure Development Project was also ready, officials were awaiting directives from the Lands Commission with respect to the validated beneficiaries of land compensation.
“We, therefore, urge claimants to the lands in question to make claims to the Lands Commission within six months of the publication of the compulsory notice issued in August 2014 in the national dailies to expedite the process of payments.
“Upon validation of uncontested claims by the Lands Commission, Ghana Gas will be obliged to pay the compensation to the claimants,” it pointed out.
It, therefore, called on the affected claimants to exercise patience while they went through the validation process of the Lands Commission
“Claimants who may have difficulty in preparing their claims have to contact the offices of Ghana Gas for assistance,” the statement emphasised.
Source: Daily Graphic
