Farmers from Adjei-Kow and adjoining communities near Adeiso in the Upper West Akim District of the Eastern Region have appealed to the government and the Ghana Police Service to urgently intervene in an escalating dispute over the takeover of their farmlands.
The affected farmers claim that armed men, allegedly contracted to clear the disputed lands, have invaded their farms with heavy-duty machinery, destroying crops and preventing them from accessing portions of their farms.
Speaking to the press at Adjei-Kow on Saturday, spokesperson for the affected farmers, Nana Kwatei, said the development had created fear and uncertainty among farmers who depended on the affected lands for their livelihoods.
According to him, the farmers had neither been properly consulted nor notified that their farms had been acquired or sold for any development.
He said the situation became particularly worrying when armed men allegedly accompanied the machinery operators to the farms, making it difficult for farmers to prevent the destruction of their crops.
Nana Kwatei questioned the basis on which the farmers’ crops were being destroyed when, according to the farmers, no one had legally acquired the portions of land they were cultivating from them.
He, therefore, appealed to the government, the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources and the Ghana Police Service to intervene immediately to prevent further destruction and protect the livelihoods of the affected farmers.
The farmers have alleged that the land takeover was being undertaken on behalf of the Nponuahene of Akyem Abuakwa State, Berima Twum Tabriadie II.
Abuakwa Nponuahene responds
Responding to the allegations, Berima Twum Tabriadie II, the Nponuahene of the Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Area, rejected claims that he had unlawfully seized the farmers’ lands or deployed heavily armed men to drive them away.
He explained that the disputed lands constituted stool land belonging to the Akyem Abuakwa State, rather than private lands belonging to the individual farmers.
According to him, the Abuakwa State had leased the land to Kasapreko Company Limited for the establishment of a new factory, which he said was expected to create employment opportunities for residents of Adeiso and surrounding communities.
The Nponuahene also denied personally sending armed men to invade the farms or destroy the farmers’ crops, instead engaging the leadership of the affected community and informing them about the intended development.
Berima Twum Tabriadie II further stated that arrangements were being made to settle the affected farmers whose farms would be impacted by the project.
He maintained that the development was intended to bring economic benefits to the area while assuring that the concerns of the affected farmers would be addressed.
The dispute, however, has heightened calls for the relevant state institutions to intervene and establish the ownership and boundaries of the disputed land, as well as ensure that affected farmers are fairly treated before any further development takes place.
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