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Asuaba chiefs, Farmers Protest Destruction of 3,500-acre Farms and Buildings.

The Chiefs and the people of Asaba, Yawkwasi, Awoyaa Donkor, Aboagyekrom and Kronanu, a farming community in the Upper West Akim District of the Eastern Region are protesting over the destruction of a total of 3,500 acres of crops in the communities by armed men who alleged to be working on their lands by the authority of influential traditional leaders in the area.

The crops destroyed on farms include Orange, Agro Forest, Oil Palm Plantation, Plantain, Yam, Cassava, Maize and Cocoyam. The

destruction supervised by unknown armed men also saw the destruction of some farms.

Speaking with the

spokesperson for the Akufo Family affected residents, Abusuapanin Kwasi Akufo who is a farmer, the destructions were led by Okyenhene Nana Amotia Ofori Panin and Asamankesehene Ateabisa Pobi over the claim to possess their lands.

He said they inherited the land from their ancestors who purchased same and lived on it to farm the lands 500 years ago.

He explained that about two weeks ago an unknown person with earth-moving machines moved into our town and started excavation work on a certain parcel of the land in the area when we enquired from the well-armed workers brought by the Okyenhene and Asamankesehene Ateabisa to do the excavation work, we were informed to our outmost shock, that the Asamankesehene through the Okyenhene, has taken possession of the land. We could have resisted with equal force of arms but we decided to use due process rather.

So this morning, they went to Adeiso police station to meet a police Commander about their land issues.

As we speak now, two acres of Yam farms, four acres of orange farms, six acres of Cassava, ten acres of oil palm plantations, two acres of plantain farms, five acres of maize farms, one acre of cocoyam farms and some buildings are yet destroyed. Where do the Asamankesehene and the Okyenhene expect these people whose livelihoods have been destroyed to get their daily bread from? he said.

The angry chiefs and farmers are demanding that; the Asamankesehene and the Okyenhene, with immediate effect, recall all their earth-moving machines from their land.

That the Asamankesehene pays for all properties destroyed by his illegal actions on their land, that the Asamankesehene give an assurance to the chiefs and people of Asuaba that their lands, henceforth, will not be attacked in this capricious manner.

Nana Osei Kwasi Omankrado also spoke with Alrich24newsgh.com news reporter Apelete Kofi-Michel, He appealed to President Akufo Addo and the Inspector General of Police Dr George Akufo Dampare to intervene to avert bloody clashes.

Some of the affected farmers said their source of livelihood has been destroyed following the destruction of their crops and farmlands.

Story by Kofi Michel/Alrich24newsgh.com