annexc - Newmont Mining Corporation

Annex C7 -- Socioeconomics Supplemental Information C7 - 7
family and shade for the growing permanent crop. Mixed cropping helps farmers cushion the
effect of failure of any one crop. However, it also tends to mean smaller plant populations
and hence lower yields per unit of land and low return per unit of input. The average
cropped area per holder ranges from 0.4 hectare to one hectare (SGS 2004f).
Bush Fallows
Bush fallows are generally divided into forb re-growth and thickets. Forb re-growth consists
of soft-stemmed leafy herbs, which establish on abandoned farmlands. Once a farm is
abandoned, these plants quickly establish and form dense foliage 1 to 2 metres or higher.
Remnants of food crops are usually present as well as coppice shoots growing from stumps
of felled trees. The re-growth is generally dominated by Chromolaena odorata and remnants
of food crops including cassava, cocoyam, plantain, banana and pawpaw.
Thickets are fallow farmland, 3 to 7 years old, characterized by impenetrable masses of
shrubs, climbers, coppice shoots, young trees and relics of food crops reaching heights of 6
metres.
FOREST RESERVES LAND USE DISCUSSION
Three forest reserves are present in the Study Area. The Mamang River Forest Reserve (53
square kilometres) and Auro River Forest Reserve (7.2 square kilometres) are outside the
Proposed Mining Area and would not be directly affected by mine development. The Ajenjua
Bepo Forest Reserve (5.9 square kilometres) is within the Proposed Mining Area with
approximately 74 hectares lying within the proposed mine pit area. A fourth forest reserve,
the Kagease Forest Reserve (27.9 square kilometres), is located several kilometres east of
the Study Area.
Use of natural resources from the three forest reserves contributes to household food
security throughout the Study Area. Hunting of certain species is allowed in the forest
reserves under special seasons controlled by Ghanaian wildlife regulations. Both legal and
illegal hunting and trapping have been noted to occur in all forest reserves. Community
members also use the forest reserves to pick fruit, mushrooms and medicinal plants and to
cut wood.
DESCRIPTIONS OF URBANIZED AREAS IN STUDY AREA
Afosu: Afosu is the largest settlement in the Area but it was still classified as a settlement
not a town because its population is below 5,000 in the 2000 national census. Estimates
made by the Ghana Statistical Service project a population of 5,325 in 2008. The District
Police station is located here. The Cocoa Research Institute has its main facility in Afosu
and the Cocoa Marketing Board maintains a station in the town. There is a small health post
run by the Ministry of Health. The Asuopra Rural Bank has a branch operation in this town
and there are two sawmills and a carpentry shop in addition to drinking spots, hairdressers,
and stores. There is a communications centre in Afosu but no post office. There are seven
formal religious centres including Christian, Catholic, and Islamic facilities.
Akyem Gold Mining Project November 2008 FINAL EIS