The Sunyani Garages Cooperative in Ghana’s Bono Region has staged a peaceful protest demanding compensation from Newmont and the government.
The cooperative and local farmers claim to have lost 23 acres of land due to the diversion of the N6 road, an 8.5-kilometre stretch between Afrisipakrom and Terchire.
Peter Aboagye Antwi, Chairman of the Sunyani Garages Cooperative, addressed the protestors, stating, “We’ve lost 23 acres of land that we’ve paid for.
We were acquiring over 200 acres and had managed to secure 23 through traditional leaders in Duayaw Nkwanta.”
Antwi explained that the road diversion affected the land in 2021 and that compensation has yet to be forthcoming despite repeated requests.
This fifth demonstration by the cooperative is a testament to their persistence in seeking redress. Antwi’s plea for prompt action from the government and Newmont clearly indicates the need for an immediate resolution to prevent further unrest among their members.
Several affected farmers, including Akosua Bayaa, Comfort Osei Tutu, and Rockson Asante, shared their experiences of hardship.
Bayaa, an elderly farmer, lamented, “Newmont has taken over my farmland for three years without any compensation.”
Similarly, Tutu expressed his deep frustration over the loss of his farmland, noting, “We used to rely on our farm for food, but now we have to buy food in Sunyani, which is a significant burden.” This stark change in their way of life due to the road diversion is a clear indication of the impact on their livelihoods.
Attempts to reach Newmont for a response were unsuccessful. The protest saw members and executives of the Sunyani Garages Cooperative, along with around 450 farmers from Afrisipakrom, block a section of the diverted road.
They used stones to obstruct traffic and immobilized a bus by removing its tyres, effectively halting Newmont’s access to the road.
