Kwahu Afram Plains North calls for help

The Kwahu Afram Plains North District Assembly has asked for the assistance of the security agencies to deal with the attacks of Fulani herdsmen on farmers and the people in the district.

It said the cattle of the herdsmen destroyed crops in the night when the farmers were not on their farms.

They are also accused of engaging in road blocks, during which they rob occupants of vehicles of their possessions sometimes in broad daylight.

The District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr Windham Emil Afram, who spoke to the Daily Graphic, further accused the Fulani herdsmen of stealing cattle belonging to indigenes.

He alleged that on two occasions there were reports in the district of Fulani herdsmen gunning down farmers who tried stopping them from engaging in those negative activities.

Mr Afram described the activities of the Fulani herdsmen as disturbing, especially when it was clear that they were in the country illegally, adding that there was the need for consensus to address the situation.

Judicial system

He was worried that “whenever these Fulani herdsmen are identified and taken to court, most of them come out walking as free men”.

“The problem we have here is that we would have wished that these criminals did not come back,” he said, alleging that “when they go, they try and manipulate their way out and are given bail”.

Other Trending Stories

World Bank report identifies implementation gap in 50 countries hindering business climate

Curfew hours at Kpatinga in Northern Region extended by Interior Ministry

Let’s use access to information in building resilient societies — Information Minister

Oseadeeyo Kwasi Akuffo, the Okuapehene

Afrifah Yamoah Ponko passes on

The DCE cited the case of Amedu Amagah, a Fulani herdsman who, he said, was well armed and was arrested for robbing an indigene of his cattle at gunpoint.

“The matter had been taken to court at Mpraeso, and we thought that the guy was going to be jailed. Now he is on bail,” he said, expressing frustration that the assembly was doing everything possible to maintain peace, but the situation was overwhelming.

Mr Afram described the issue of Fulani herdsmen as an emerging phenomenon, noting that it started attracting attention three years ago.

Fodder banks

Mr Afram said there was the need to make the fodder banks established in the district to work and hinted that ensuring that the two banks in the district worked would be his focus.

He explained that the banks were meant for cattle to be confined, especially in the dry season, to prevent them from destroying farm produce, adding that there would be a place where a veterinary officer would treat the animals.

Security Service

He further suggested that another way of addressing the activities of the Fulani herdsmen was for the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) to post more police officers to the district and provide them with vehicles to facilitate their patrol activities.

Mr Afram said there was even the need to establish a military base in the district, and therefore, appealed to the Ministry of Defence and the National Security to consider taking such steps to enable them to complement what the police were doing.

He also wished that an Immigration post were created in the district to handle such cases so that those without the appropriate documentation should be compelled to leave the country.

ECOWAS

He said he believed that the ECOWAS protocol “does not say that you should come and steal cattle, arm yourself and go and block roads, steal from people and gun people down”.

Assembly

On what role the assembly was playing to resolve the issue, Mr Afram said currently the assembly was supporting the police by fueling their vehicle to enable them to patrol the major roads in the district.

In addition, he said, the assembly had had meetings with the leadership of the Fulani herdsmen on the activities of their members and their implications.

Wrier’s Email: severious.dery@graphic.com.gh