Dr Arhin said residents of Ewoyaa and neighbouring communities had endured nearly three years of development restrictions, with some property structures reportedly damaged and farmers unable to cultivate cash crops, yet compensation remained outstanding.
In an exclusive interview with MyNewsGh.com reporter Hajia Asana Gordon, the MP expressed concern about the prolonged delay, stressing that affected residents should not continue to bear the cost of a major mining project without receiving the compensation due to them.
He said the situation had created hardship for families whose access to their land and livelihoods had been affected by the project.
MP says parliamentary approval hurdle cleared
Dr Arhin said Parliament had completed its part of the process by ratifying the agreement for large-scale commercial lithium mining at Ewoyaa, paving the way for the project to proceed.
He argued that, following the parliamentary approval, the company should address outstanding administrative issues that were delaying compensation payments.
The MP urged Atlantic Lithium and Barari DV Ghana Limited to ensure that affected families were not subjected to further uncertainty while awaiting settlement for the impact on their properties and farming activities.
Calls for engagement with traditional authorities
Dr Arhin also called for stronger engagement between the mining companies, affected landowners and other relevant stakeholders, including traditional authorities, to resolve outstanding concerns.
He said prompt compensation and fair treatment of residents were necessary to address the growing concerns in the affected communities.
The MP’s appeal adds to questions surrounding the management of land access and compensation as Ghana advances plans to develop its lithium resources.
He maintained that residents who have endured years of restrictions should receive timely attention and a fair resolution to their outstanding claims.
