By Opesika Tetteh Puplampu
Ayisah, July 04, GNA — Bonifiche Ferraresi (BF) Ghana, an Italian agribusiness company operating in the Ada West District of the Greater Accra Region, has clarified the process for compensating farmers affected by its agricultural project following concerns over delays in payment.
The clarification follows a recent Ghana News Agency (GNA) report in which more than 300 farmers from Ayisah, Tehe, Luta, Blanya and adjoining communities said they had not received compensation nearly a year after their farmlands were acquired for the project.
In a statement, the BF Ghana said it remained committed to transparency, social sustainability and maintaining trust-based relationships with local communities, employees and public institutions.
The company rejected allegations that it had destroyed crops belonging to affected farmers.
According to the statement, all crops officially identified and recorded by the Lands Commission remain intact, explaining that under Ghanaian law, no land development or mechanised activities could begin on the concession until the statutory compensation process had been completed.
THE BF Ghana said the Lands Commission had completed a survey of the first concession, covering approximately 1,715 hectares, to identify affected farmers, determine the sizes of their farms and assess crops for compensation.
It explained that the commission was finalising its valuation report and that the company was awaiting a formal request to pay the statutory fees required to initiate compensation payments.
The company disclosed that although the administrative process had not been completed, it had proposed paying an advance of 50 per cent of the estimated compensation to affected farmers.
It said it had requested a meeting involving the Lands Commission, community representatives and other relevant stakeholders to discuss arrangements for the advance payment while the statutory process was being finalised.
According to the statement, the BF Ghana successfully completed compensation for an earlier 60-hectare concession involving about 50 farmers in October 2025 without any objections, a process it said was confirmed by the Aveyime District Assembly.
The company also stated that it had reserved 50 hectares of land exclusively for farming by residents of the Aveyime community to support local livelihoods.
The BF Ghana said it had invested approximately €9.5 million in infrastructure and agricultural development since commencing operations in Ghana in January 2024 and currently employed 118 permanent staff, excluding seasonal workers.
The company reiterated its commitment to working closely with the Lands Commission, traditional authorities, community leaders and other stakeholders to ensure that the compensation process was completed fairly, peacefully and expeditiously.
The clarification follows appeals by affected farmers for the government, the Lands Commission and BF Ghana to expedite compensation payments to enable them to restore their livelihoods.
GNA
Edited by Laudia Anyorkor Nunoo/Benjamin Mensah
Reporter: Opesika Tetteh Puplampu