Recent developments in the Asutifi District of the Ahafo Region have stirred controversy as Newmont Ghana’s Ahafo South operations face delays in the expected expansion of their Tailings Storage Facility (TSF).
The cause of this delay, according to a statement released by Samuel Osei, the Communications and External Relations Manager of Newmont Ahafo South and North, is attributed to speculative structures in Dokyikrom.
The issue came to light following a publication on Graphic Online on October 30, 2023, wherein Mr. Osei expressed concerns over structures in Dokyikrom, suggesting they were impeding the expansion of the TSF.
However, the Dokyikrom community strongly disputes these claims, labeling them as baseless and an attempt to tarnish their image.
In a scathing response, the community accuses Mr. Osei of communicating in an insulting and demeaning manner, comparing his language to that of a street hawker.
They argue that such communication only serves to escalate tensions between the company and its host communities.
The community further asserts that the structures in question were in existence before the cut-off date and had undergone the necessary land access processes.
They vehemently deny the characterization of these structures as speculative and question the validity of Mr. Osei’s statements.
Mr. Osei’s reference to delays in the resettlement process due to the TSF expansion is met with skepticism by the community, who argue that the two issues are unrelated. Instead, they claim that poor Social and Environmental Responsibility (S&ER) leadership and corruption within Newmont are the true causes of the delays.
To address the concerns raised, ongoing discussions involve the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Newmont, and community representatives.
The community demands clarity on the company’s assertions and challenges Mr. Osei to provide evidence supporting claims that EPA deemed their structures “wrongful and ineligible for compensation.”
