By: Kekeli Blamey | ignewss – Adina, Ghana
Six (6) Assembly Members in the Ketu South Municipality have called on stakeholders to clarify the disbursement of compensation funds paid by Seven Seas Salt Limited to communities affected by the company’s salt mining operations.
The Assembly Members have raised concerns over the opening and management of community bank accounts, the issuance of compensation cheques and a proposed deduction of GH¢57,088.80 in consultancy and surveying fees.
The concerned Assembly Members are Hon. Kumawu Sylvester of Amutinu, Hon. Clemence Agbotey of Blekusu, Hon. Daniel Azumah of Kpedzakope, Hon. Jonas Alevia Agbagba of Nogokpo/Atiwuta, Hon. Johnson Agbeko Souzey of Adina, and Hon. Eben Assay of Agavedzi.
According to the Assembly Members, Seven Seas Salt Limited was expected to pay compensation to communities affected by its operations, with arrangements discussed at meetings involving relevant stakeholders.
They said the company was to engage and pay a consultant to prepare the compensation packages, while the affected communities were expected to open bank accounts to receive their respective payments.
Under the arrangement they described, the accounts were to have three signatories: a representative of the community chief, the Assembly Member and a woman representing the community.
The Assembly Members further indicated that discussions had agreed on the payment of 10 per cent of the compensation to the chiefs as stool owners, while each Assembly Member representing an affected community was to receive GH¢1,500.
They maintained that these arrangements were captured in the minutes of the Executive Committee of the Ketu South Municipal Assembly.
Concerns over bank accounts and consultancy fees
The Assembly Members said they were surprised to discover that bank accounts had allegedly been opened without their knowledge, with Togbe Atiane IV, Chief of Staff to the Sóme Paramountcy, serving as a signatory to all the accounts.
They also questioned the issuance of cheques to chiefs for the compensation funds to be deposited into what they described as secret accounts.
Another major concern was the reported plan to deduct GH¢57,088.80 from the compensation funds as consultancy and surveying fees.
The Assembly Members argued that the proposed deduction contradicted the earlier understanding that Seven Seas Salt Limited would bear the cost of engaging the consultant.
Describing the developments as inconsistent with the decisions reached at previous meetings, they said the arrangements had raised questions about transparency and accountability in the management of the compensation payments.
“All these are bizarre developments contrary to the unanimous decisions made earlier with the Executive Committee of the Ketu South Municipal Assembly,” they stated.
Call for clarification
The Assembly Members have called on all stakeholders involved in the compensation process to provide answers to the concerns raised.
They said clear explanations would help address what they described as misconceptions and misinformation surrounding the disbursement of the compensation funds.
The controversy centres on the management of compensation intended for communities affected by Seven Seas Salt Limited’s operations, including questions about who authorised the bank accounts, who should serve as signatories and who is responsible for consultancy and surveying expenses.
SOURCE: www.ignewss.com