Deadlock over disbursement of royalty resolved

Chirano (W/R), March 6, GNA - A protracted misunderstanding between
two traditional councils in the Western Region over royalties from the
Chirano Gold Mines has been resolved.
This followed a meeting called by Mr Patrick Amoah, the Western
Regional Administrator of Stool Lands, among the paramount chiefs of
the Sefwi-Wiawso, Sefwi-Anhwiaso, District Chief Executive for
Bibiani-Anhwiaso-Bekwai and Sefwi-Wiawso as well as the management of
the Gold Mine at Chirano.
The mining company had released 700 million cedis in two
tranches to be paid as royalties to the two traditional councils on
whose lands the company's concessions are located, the first of which
was released in September 2006.The two parties have since been
embroiled in a dispute over who should benefit from a larger amount.
Whilst Nana Nkoa Kodom, Omanhene of Sefwi-Wiawso wanted a chunk
of the amount on grounds of owning a larger portion of the concession,
Ogyeahoho Nana Yaw Gyebi II, Omanhene of Sefwi-Anhwiaso, insisted that
the amount be shared equally between the two parties.
As a result of the impasse, the money has been in the
possession of the Western Regional Administrator of Stool Lands
pending the settlement of the dispute.The agreement was that the
Sefwi-Wiawso Traditional Council should have 55 per cent of the amount
with the remaining 45 per cent going to Sefwi-Anhwiaso.
Mr John Seaward, the General Manager of Chirano Gold Mines,
commended the two traditional councils for exhibiting a high sense of
maturity in their deliberations and expressed the hope that the mutual
respect for each other would be maintained in subsequent years to
enable the company to operate in an atmosphere of peace and
understanding.