While the final decision to fund construction of the Akyem project won't be made until 2011, Newmont Ghana has been busy with project activities such as infill drilling, testing hydrology, monitoring the environment, surveying the land and negotiating compensation agreements. Currently, we are completing Stage 4 activities in which we prepare for a transition to operations. As part of the process, clearing and grubbing of some project sites continues.
The project team has met several times with 67 farmers whose lands have been affected by the earthworks. In the meetings, the project team shared more about operational activities and processes. Newmont Ghana gave farmers the opportunity to harvest mature produce before clearing the land and arranged for them to receive compensation for lost property.
