AML pays Le551M to crop owners
African Minerals Ltd. (AML) Saturday paid over half a billion leones as crop compensation to over three hundred farmers whose plantations were affected by the railway project at Pepel in the Loko Masama and Kafu Bullom chiefdoms, Port Loko district.
The company’s Head of Corporate Affairs, Mustapha Kamara, Logistics Manager Musa Alie Bangura, and Director of Communications Anthony Navo Jr. supervised the cash payment of Le297 million in Loko Masama and Le254 million in Kaffu Bullom to individuals and families whose crops have been independently assessed, valued and validated by the ministry of agriculture.
A parallel assessment was also carried out, in collaboration with crop owners, by community liaison officers of AML who prepared the assessment forms to be witnessed by chiefs and other authorities in the different localities.
The logistics manager shared some moments of happiness with the people. He, nonetheless, was quick to inform them that subsequent payment would be done in cheques for security reasons and for proper record keeping.
Director of Mines in the Ministry of Mines and Mineral Resources, Jonathan Shaka, said they were obliged as a line ministry to assure communities in the mining areas but also to ensure that their entitlements are insure.
“Payment is done openly for the purpose of transparency and accountability. NGOs and civil society groups seeking to know of what benefit is mining to the community should trace the record to the ministry of mines and the even the media who covered the event,” he said.
He, however, entreated famers that all crops and land affected should be regarded as communities and farmers’ contributions to national development.
Meanwhile, design and planning studies to complete the refurbishment and construction of the Pepel Port and Pepel–Marampa railway system have been completed ahead of a shift from a combined haul-road and rail system to an all-rail transport and logistics system.
Tanu Jalloh, Press & PR Officer, African Minerals (SL) Ltd.
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