By: Daniel Yao Akpabli | ignewss – Adina, Ghana
The Public Relations Officer of Seven Seas Salt Limited, Mr Adam Mensah, has dismissed allegations of irregularities in the disbursement of compensation to communities affected by the company’s salt mining operations, insisting that the process was transparent and involved the relevant traditional authorities and the Ketu North Municipal Assembly.
Mr Mensah said the company was surprised to receive a press statement from six assembly members calling for investigations into the compensation arrangements, describing the allegations as inconsistent with the company’s records and the process followed.
According to him, the compensation cheques were prepared openly, with payments and photographs taken in the presence of the media and other stakeholders.
He maintained that the company did not operate any secret account for the compensation payments.
“There is no secret account which we know of as a company, and monies for this compensation are not paid into any secret account, neither shall they be paid into a secret account created by any individual,” he said.
Assembly Engaged Consultant for Compensation Assessment
Mr Mensah explained that the consultant who assessed the compensation due to the affected communities was engaged by the Ketu North Municipal Assembly, following petitions presented to the Municipal Security Committee.
He said the committee subsequently resolved that an independent assessment should be conducted to determine appropriate compensation for the affected communities, leading the Assembly to contract a consultant for the exercise.
According to him, the Assembly submitted the consultant’s report to the company for implementation in a letter dated December 16, 2020, signed by Alhaji Yusif Ibrahim, then Municipal Coordinating Director, on behalf of the Municipal Chief Executive.
Mr Mensah said Seven Seas Salt reviewed the report and subsequently requested the bank account details of the beneficiary communities from the Assembly.
He maintained that the relevant details were provided on the morning of the disbursement, after which the company prepared the cheques for the respective communities.
He challenged the assembly members to provide evidence to support their allegations of a secret account, suggesting that they contact the Municipal Assembly for clarification on the compensation arrangements.
Company Says Compensation Agreements Were with Chiefs
The PRO further explained that the compensation offer letters were issued to the chiefs of eight affected communities: Agbeve, Kpedzakope, Alagba, Blekusu, Amutinu, Salakope, Agavedzi and other beneficiary communities identified in the agreements.
He said the chiefs, acting on behalf of their respective communities, submitted acceptance letters and signed the compensation agreements.
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According to him, the assembly members participated as witnesses, while the municipal assembly played a mediating role between the company and the traditional authorities.
Mr Mensah argued that the company had fulfilled its responsibility by implementing the compensation arrangements agreed upon with the communities.
“The offer itself is in the name of the chiefs. They also accordingly wrote acceptance letters, so the offer was given to the chiefs on behalf of the community and the acceptance was also written in the name of the chiefs on behalf of the communities,” he explained.
He added that any disagreements over how the compensation should be distributed among community members should be resolved internally by the respective communities and their traditional leaders.
Company Urges Assembly Members to Engage Chiefs
Mr Mensah urged the assembly members to engage their respective chiefs to resolve any concerns regarding the distribution of the compensation rather than directing their grievances at the company.
He said Seven Seas Salt’s primary responsibility was to conduct its salt mining operations in accordance with the law, adopt appropriate practices and create employment opportunities.
The controversy follows a press statement by six assembly members calling for an investigation into the compensation payments.
The assembly members’ allegations, as presented in the material available, have not been independently verified.
Seven Seas Salt Limited maintains that its records show the compensation agreements were concluded with the chiefs representing the affected communities, with the Municipal Assembly serving as an intermediary.
SOURCE: www.ignewss.com