Newmont Ghana has denied media reports suggesting that the mining company’s bid to pump water from River Pra for its Akyem Project would reduce the volume of water of the river and eventually dry it up. Ms Adiki Ayitevie, Regional Communications Manager, told the Ghana News Agency in an interview in Accra that the amount of water to be drawn for the mining project will not in any way affect the river. She noted the activities of the company will be closely monitored by the Water Resources Commission (WRC)which has comprehensive guidelines on water drawn from rivers for mining purposes. "The regulatory agency (WRC)will ensure that water pumped for mining purposes does not adversely impact downstream usage including communities' water usage patterns. "The Water Resources Commission will give the Akyem Project a Water Use Permit and Schedule indicating the volume of water and periods water can be pumped. "As part of the monitoring process, the Project will be required to regularly submit its water usage patterns and the amounts drawn from the River Pra, Ms Ayitevie explained. She said the WRC regularly conducts field trips to ascertain water usage pattern and adherence to the issued Water Permit and this would apply to the Akyem Project when production commences. Ms Ayitevie also dismissed reports that the company's activities in the Ajenua Bepo Forest Reserve would destroy rivers such as Sentrifa, Awro, Adenkyensu, Akwasi Akwasi, Aprapun, Yayaa, Adotosu, which have their source from the forest reserve. She explained that the proposed Akyem Project footprint is not in the course of any river perennially flowing through the broader Birim North area, adding, watercourses close to the Akyem Project Area and flow into the Pra and Mamang rivers (including those emanating from the Ajenjua Bepo Forest Reserve) are ephemeral and flow only during the wet seasons (totaling about four months a year) when they have sufficient magnitude to cause water runoff. Ms Ayitevie said the Ajenua Bepo (Ajenua Mountain) which is the highest in the area supports rainfall and promotes agriculture. Ms Ayitevie said farmers, whose crops were disturbed during the Akyem Project mining area declaration and the recent exploration activity, would be compensated as required by the Minerals and Mining law. " We have also publicly committed that every individual with farms and immovable properties, which have or will be impacted by our Akyem Project, will be duly compensated consistent with the express provisions in the Minerals and Mining Law and relevant provisions in the Constitution of Ghana. " she said. Ms Ayitevie said: "Their complaints have also been formally registered at our Akyem Project Office's grievance and complaints unit for redress and peaceful settlement. They have been assured payment of their compensation. " She noted that the process of determining due compensation was on going, through the 66-member Compensation Negotiation Committee in Akyem that has the mandate of the communities in the project area to negotiate compensation on crops, immovable properties, and land deprivation and resettlement issues. She noted that farmers have continued with their normal farming activities in Newmont operational areas to ensure food security. She said they access their farms by footpaths and are not being checked nor searched as they are free to carrying on with their farming activities. Ms Ayitevie said however, check points have been mounted on roads leading into the declared mining area to deter people intending to upgrade their existing crops and buildings or those planning to start new farms or erect new buildings from doing so. Source: GNA