The Coalition of Landowners affected by the Lot One section of the Abidjan-Lagos Corridor Highway Project has called on the Government of Ghana and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to immediately pay compensation to more than 7,000 affected farmers, landowners and property developers.
Addressing a news conference at Anwiafutu Junction in the Jomoro Municipality of the Western Region, Mr Paul Kodwo Kwaw, Secretary to the Coalition, appealed to the Ghana Highway Authority (GHA) and the Ministry of Roads and Highways to resume the verification, valuation and compensation processes for persons affected by the project along the Elubo–Agona Nkwanta stretch.
Mr Kwaw said valuation of affected properties was conducted nearly three years ago, after which affected landowners and property owners were engaged by project officials.
He explained that following the exercise, farmers and developers halted planting activities and infrastructure development on their lands in anticipation of compensation payments.
“In view of this, every farmer and developer who had begun planting cash crops or any infrastructural development on the said land had ceased operation awaiting compensation which has not been paid two years down the lane after the first correction and verification.”
Mr Kwaw stated that in June 2025, project officials conducted community engagement meetings in Apemanim, Abura, Ndetiem, Kamgbunli, Kikam, Samenye and Anwiafutu Junction, during which affected persons were informed that a final verification exercise would be undertaken. However, he said the exercise was yet to take place.
According to him, the Coalition subsequently petitioned the Ghana Highway Authority offices in Takoradi and Accra, the Minister of Roads and Highways, the Western Regional Minister, and four Members of Parliament whose constituencies are affected by the project, but no action had been taken.
He added that a petition submitted to President John Dramani Mahama through the Western Regional Member of the Council of State had also not yielded any response.
Mr Kwaw said the prolonged delay in compensation payments had caused severe hardship for affected persons, many of whom had been deprived of their livelihoods for nearly three years without any alternative support from project implementers.
He appealed to the Government to expedite the compensation process to alleviate the plight of the affected farmers, landowners and developers.
Mr Kwaw warned that the Coalition would be compelled to take further action if no progress was made by the stated deadline.
He said: “The Coalition will advise itself and begin to picket on the premise of the Ministry of Roads and Highways if the July 2026 deadline elapsed without any evidence of payment.”
GNA
