The Ghana National Gas Company will on Monday, March 30, begin another compensation payment exercise in the Western Region as part of the Early Phase Gas Infrastructure Project from Essiama to Prestea.
About GH₵7.8 million will be paid as compensation package for crops, belonging to about 800 project-affected farmers in 23 communities along the Essiama-Prestea Lateral Line.
The beneficiary communities include Prestea, Banaho, Gwira Bibini Nsuaem, Kutokrom, Mbease Nsuta, Anyinam, Bondae, Ahomkakrom, Abrodiem, Wiawso, Esamzam, Ma Nyame Hunu, Bokazo, Krobo Junction, Eshiem, Tumentu, Dwira Semtum, Assuawaah, Angedware, Atabobo, Aluka, Teleku Bokazo and Essiama.
A statement signed by the Corporate Communications Manager or Ghana Gas, Alfred Ogbamey, listed the procedures for crops compensation claims.
It stated that;
Claimants must come to the compensation grounds with their original Form Fs 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.
For the avoidance of doubt, all claimants around the Essiama end of the EP Line 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.
Ghana Gas also wishes to announce that it is ready to pay compensation for lands compulsorily acquired for the Western Corridor Gas Infrastructure Development Project.
Ghana Gas is, however, 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 adhere to the following processes to expedite the process of payment to them.
Claimants of land compensation are expected to make claims to the Lands Commission within six months of the publication of compulsory acquisition notices in the national dailies.
The said compulsory acquisition notices in this case were published in August 2014.
Upon validation of uncontested claims by the Lands Commission, Ghana Gas will be obliged to pay the compensation to the claimant.
Ghana Gas therefore, appealed to the affected claimants to exercise patience while they go through the validation process of the Lands Commission.
It also appealed to claimants who may have difficulties in preparing their claims to contact the offices of Ghana Gas for assistance because “officials are ready to assist them to the best of their abilities.”
By: Efua Idan Osam/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @osamidan