The Paramount Chief of the Sóme Traditional Area, Togbe Adamah III, has disputed allegations raised by six (6) Assembly Members over the disbursement of compensation by Seven Seas Salt Company, describing their media engagement as containing misinformation, half-truths and insinuations.
The Paramount Chief said the compensation process, which culminated in the presentation of cheques on February 19, 2021, was long and complex, having been initiated by his predecessor, Togbe Hor II.
Speaking to Inside Ghana News Service (www.ignewss.com), Togbe Adamah III said the process followed years of difficulties that had resulted in the loss of lives, injuries, hospitalisation and damage to properties belonging to both the company and individuals.
The Chief of Staff to the Paramountcy, Togbe Atiane IV, had earlier denied the allegations in a separate engagement with the news portal.
Paramountcy outlines compensation arrangements.
According to Togbe Adamah III, the Paramountcy, as custodian of the traditional lands, could have taken full control of negotiations with the company over compensation. However, it decided to involve communities bordering the concession so they could benefit from the payments.
He explained that, ahead of the cheque presentation, he consulted the chiefs of the affected communities and agreed that temporary accounts would be opened at the Agricultural Development Bank in Denu.
Under the arrangement, Togbe Atiane IV was to serve as a signatory to the temporary accounts to enable the Paramountcy to monitor the initial management of the funds.
After the money had been deposited, three new signatories, two selected by each community and one selected by the chief, were expected to replace the temporary signatories. The chief, however, was not to be a signatory to the community account.
The Paramount Chief further explained that each chief, in consultation with the relevant Assembly Member, was expected to form a five-member committee, including a woman, to work with the Paramountcy’s Central Development Committee to plan and monitor the use of the compensation for the benefit of the communities.
The parties also agreed that 10 per cent of the compensation due to each community would be allocated to the chief for the upkeep of the stool, citing Article 267(6) of the 1992 Constitution.
He added that a consultant involved in preparing the compensation package was to be paid separately for preparing site plans for the communities. However, he insisted that no money had been deducted from the compensation payments to cover that service.
The company had also reportedly agreed to provide a 300-metre buffer zone intended to support aquaculture development in the affected communities.
Disagreement over Assembly Members’ involvement
The Paramount Chief said the Assembly Members representing communities within the concession area were involved in discussions during the negotiations because of their role as representatives of the people.
However, he said the traditional authority decided against including them in the operation of the community accounts for several reasons.
Among the reasons cited were concerns about their eligibility to operate or serve as signatories to community accounts, allegations of previous mismanagement of community resources and claims that some Assembly Members had colluded with residents to steal the company’s property.
These allegations have not been independently verified.
Togbe Adamah III further alleged that, during the negotiations, the Assembly Members requested five per cent of the compensation due to each community for themselves.
He said that, following consultations with the chiefs, it was agreed that each Assembly Member would instead receive GH¢1,500.
According to him, a Memorandum of Understanding was subsequently prepared to cover the Paramountcy, the chiefs and the Assembly Members in relation to the disbursement process, but the Assembly Members declined to sign it.
Paramountcy questions accounts opened for communities
The Paramount Chief said community account details were later forwarded to the Ketu North Municipal Chief Executive for onwards transmission to Seven Seas Salt Company to facilitate the preparation of the compensation cheques.
He, however, claimed that the Paramountcy was surprised on the day of the cheque presentation to discover that the cheques had been issued in names unfamiliar to the traditional authority.
He said subsequent investigations by the Paramountcy indicated that the Ketu South Municipal Assembly had written letters authorising the Assembly Members to open community accounts.
Under the reported arrangement, the Assembly Members, a woman and another community member said to be representing the Chief were to serve as signatories.
The Paramountcy questioned why the alternative accounts were established when it believed accounts had already been opened for the same purpose.
The development, according to Togbe Adamah III, created a misunderstanding between the chiefs and the Municipal Assembly during the presentation of the compensation cheques.
He expressed concern that the Assembly was allegedly seeking to exercise control over funds intended for the affected communities.
Legal basis for compensation
The dispute also touches on the ownership and management of natural resources and the payment of compensation for land use.
Article 267(1) of Ghana’s 1992 Constitution provides for stool lands to be vested in the appropriate stool in trust for the subjects of the stool, in accordance with customary law and usage.
The Paramountcy maintained that the traditional authority had not sold or leased the salt lagoon to Seven Seas Salt Company, arguing that the concession was granted by the Government of Ghana.
It also referred to the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703), which provides for compensation in circumstances involving deprivation of the use or lawful enjoyment of land.
The traditional authority said its decision to involve communities bordering the concession was intended to ensure that they benefited from the compensation.
Paramountcy accuses the Assembly of disrespect.
Togbe Adamah III accused the Ketu North Municipal Assembly, under its Chief Executive, Eliot Agbenorwu, of showing disrespect to the traditional authority during the process.
He said the conduct of the Assembly had created the impression that the Paramountcy was subordinate to the municipal administration.
The dispute follows a call by six Assembly Members for an investigation into the disbursement of compensation paid by Seven Seas Salt Company.
The Assembly Members’ concerns and the Paramountcy’s response highlight disagreements over the administration of compensation funds, the authority responsible for managing community accounts and the involvement of elected local representatives in decisions affecting their communities.
SOURCE: www.ignewss.com.