Residents of the Mfantseman Municipality in the Central Region, affected by the Ewoyaa lithium project, have threatened to sue Atlantic Lithium Mining for damages to their properties.
They are also demanding compensation for lost time and for millions of cedis in property damage.
According to the group, they require fair and adequate compensation to be paid immediately so they can repay outstanding loans.
They revealed that since December 4, 2023, their personal construction projects in communities including Abonko, Krofu, Ewoyaa, Kulem, and Krampakrom have come to a complete halt due to the mining activities.
At a press conference, the Secretary of the Concerned Ewoyaa Lithium Affected People, Mr. Frank Acquah, stated that the residents have no choice but to protest against Atlantic Lithium Mining.
“If we are not compensated after our repeated appeals and our planned demonstration, we will return to our sites and resume work but we will still demand compensation for the time lost and for the damage to our properties,” Mr. Acquah said.
He appealed to the Parliament of Ghana, President John Dramani Mahama, legal practitioners, traditional authorities, religious bodies, the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), and the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources to intervene as soon as possible to ensure compensation is paid to affected residents in the Mfantseman Municipality.
“We, the affected people, cannot wait for parliamentary ratification due to the difficult situation caused by the Ewoyaa Lithium Project,” he stated.
“We need fair and adequate compensation paid immediately because our structures and materials on site have been damaged. Our lives have been placed on indefinite hold,” Mr. Acquah added.
He explained that for over two years, Atlantic Lithium Mining Company has prevented them from continuing their developments without offering compensation.
“We have been blocked from continuing our projects and are now living in rented accommodations. We are struggling to service loans taken to fund these projects. Those of us who are farmers are also suffering because the company has banned cash crops, creating further hardship,” he said.
This situation has caused severe financial hardship, emotional distress, fear, frustration, and deep uncertainty among the affected people.
“What is even more painful is that we have not been given any clear timeline or official communication regarding when compensation will be paid. We have been left completely in the dark, and our patience is wearing thin,” Mr. Acquah stated.
He confirmed that the Concerned Ewoyaa Lithium Affected People have written formally to Atlantic Lithium Mining on several occasions, but no action has been taken to pay compensation.
Source By DC Kwame Kwakye
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