Farmers from communities around 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 what they describe as the unlawful takeover and destruction of their farmlands.
The farmers allege that armed men, accompanied by earth-moving machines, have recently invaded their farms and destroyed crops under the claim that the lands had been sold for development.
Speaking to the press, the affected farmers said they had not been consulted or notified about any lawful sale of their farmlands and questioned the basis for the destruction of their crops.
They alleged that the armed men prevented them from stopping the destruction and called for immediate government and police intervention to protect their livelihoods and property.
The farmers attributed the alleged takeover to the Nponuahene of the Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Area, Berima Twum Tabriadie II, and appealed to the authorities to investigate the matter.
Responding to the allegations, Berima Twum Tabriadie II denied invading the farms with armed men.
He explained that the disputed land constitutes stool land belonging to the Akyem Abuakwa State and said it had been leased to Kasapreko Company Limited for the establishment of a new factory.
According to him, the proposed factory is intended to create employment opportunities for residents of Adeiso and neighbouring communities.
The Nponuahene also rejected claims that he had deployed heavily armed men to forcibly take over the land.
He said he had never engaged in such conduct and would not do so.
Rather, he explained that he had met with community leaders to inform them about the development and expressed his willingness to engage with affected farmers and provide compensation or settlement for those whose farms would be impacted by the project.
