There is seeming tension gradually mounting at Asuaba and it environs in the Upper Akim District of the Eastern Region as over 6000 farmlands have been graded and destroyed by Okyihene Land Protection Force.
This development has rendered about 20000 farmers jobless after these task force forcefully ravaged cassava, plantain, coco yam, yam and maize farms.
The rest are palm and coconuts plantations, orange and pawpaw farms and many unannounced because they claim the land belong to Okyihene
This situation if immediately not stopped will escalate to a conflict because the poor farmers have vowed to defend and protect their lands going forward at the peril of their lives.
Speaking at a press conference organised by the concern farmers at Asuaba on Monday February 19,2024, the spokesperson for the farmers, Nana Yaa Fiankobea, popularly known as Yaa Asantewaa said the farmers have resolved to protect their lands because the Adeiso Police Commander has categorically stated the police cannot help them.
According to Yaa Asantewaa, these Okyihene task force activities have affected over 20 communities with an estimated 60,000 acre land.
“We are here this morning to speak about the plain disregard of rule of law and by-force seizure of our lands through intimidation by the Okyihene and his criminal elements,” she stated.
Nana Yaa said, “as we speak the Okyihene and his criminal gang led by one Nana Baah Akansira popularly known Haruna have illegally ravaged over 6000 farmlands.
She said this disastrous acts started July last year where a group claiming to be subjects of the Okyihene, Asamankesehene and Adeisohene stormed the communities unannounced with armed guard men wilding guns like AK47, G4, and Pump Actions numbering about 100 started grading the lands because they claim those lands fall under the Okyihene’ authority.
The sad thing is that these criminal elements have no land or portion of lands in the area rendering their activities and force entry criminal and abusive of the rights of the over 20,000 people who feed and depends on these lands for survival since the era of their for fathers.
Historical facts
The 20 affected communities are Asuaba, Adu Kwadwo, Tiokrom, Asarekrom, Kwabena Larbi, Npankyine and it environs, Yaw Kwaasi, Awo Yaa Donkor, Akotweikrom, Awherease, Amonkrom and Maame Dede. The rest are Owusukrom, Takorase, Otookrom, Lamptey, Kwaku Addaikrom, Alaafiakrom and Mekodakakra
She revealed that the land was initially owned by the Akwamu people under the reign of Ansah Sasraku I, but during the reign of Ofori Atta in 1942, those land were sold to the Akuapem people where certain names were changed to reflect it current stated.
Ladies and gentlemen of the Press, during this era, when the Akyem people encounter any chieftency disputes and other matters that must be resolve, it is brought to Sekyikrom the traditional headquarters then for settlement. A place like current Tiokrom was formerly called Sumsumaso but the name was changed during the reign of Ofori Atta’s era in 1942 to reflect the Akuapem people.
One aspect of the whole issue is the facts that farmers whose farm lands have been graded and destroyed cannot seek justice as complainants end up in police cells for reporting these criminal elements activities.
“Tell me if this is not miscarriage of justice then what is it?”
Demands
We want the IGP to call hiss men at Adeiso and Kyibi to order, the
Okyihene and all his assigns should vacate the land within 24 hours or be prepared to face a battle because we are readi to die in protecting our farmlands than to cowardly run away.”
The angry farmer want the President Akufo-Addo to talk his uncle the Okyihene to leave our lands in peace or the IGP should be prepared to expect a Third World War in this areas.
Reacting to the issue the National Democratic Congress Parliamentary Candidate for the area, Mr. Emmanuel Drah called on the Okyihene, the incumbent MP, and the MDCE to take proactive measures and restore order.
He challenged the authority to act swiftly to avoid any confrontation because the the people have occupied the lands for the pass 400 years.
