The Eastern regional security command has deployed eighty security personnel to the Kwahu area to assist in the fight against the activities of Fulani herdsmen in the region.
The Eastern Regional Minister, Eric Kawkye Daffour made this announcement on the ‘Epa Hoa Daben’ show on Accra-based Happy FM hosted by Kwame Afrifa Mensah.
He was hopeful the presence of the security personnel will restore calm to the area. He said the Fulani herdsmen situation in the Kwahu area is worrying coupled with the lack of laws on the rearing of animals in the country. According to the Minister, the lack of laws governing that sector of the economy is fast becoming a worry to the regional security handlers.
He says the rearing of animals is fast becoming a big business that must not be over looked. He revealed that the rearing of animals in the Kwahu area is a big business that involves Chiefs, politicians, businessmen, security personnel, journalists among others in the country.
He noted that because there are no proper laws governing sector ,people have taken the activities into their own hands to do anything in the area.
He admitted that the cattle rustling industry is big business and it is evolving in the country leading to the clashes between the locals and the Fulani nomads in the country. It is nauseating in recent times to spot cows grazing behind the Eastern Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) he worried. We need laws to deal with this situation other than the fire fighting situation of deploying men to the area.
Below is statement issued by Kwahu Youth for Social Development (KYSD);
We, the leadership of Kwahu Youth for Social Development and its members wish to express our displeasure to the attack and killing of aboriginals in the Kwahu East District by Fulani herdsmen.
There must be an immediate intervention by government and opinion leaders to deal with the situation.
As a group with a major interest in the development of Kwahuman, we see the situation as great threat to development as properties are being destroyed by these Fulani herdsmen. At least nine lives have been lost with several sustaining various degree of injury.
Our condolences and sympathy to the families who have lost their beloveds through the incident.
Little could the ordinary citizens do in dealing with the issue of their farms being destroyed by Fulani herdsmen as those who employed these Fulanis are very powerful and influential in the community. Fulani herdsmen have always been the threat to the people of Kwahu East District and for that reason, we as a group also think the Member of Parliament for the constituency who doubles as a Minister of State in charge of National Security, Hon Bryan Acheampong made a good proposal in handling the situation except for the call on the constituents to deal with the Fulani herdsmen in their own way which incited people to attack the Fulani herdsmen secretly.
We still believe the MP and minister with the Eastern Regional Minister, Hon Kwakye Daffour who is also the MP for Kwahu West and the government as a whole can help with the needed forces from the various security services to protect and defend the affected communities.
We equally call on the Kwahumanhene, Daasebre Akuamoah Agyepong II and all other chiefs to add their voices as early as possible as the aboriginals of some communities within the district are very vulnerable at this moment. Some of the communities are empty as people have to flee to save their lives.
We will also like to send a strong signal to those influential people whom for self-centred parochial interests are inciting the Fulani herdsmen against the people of Kwahuman.
The Kwahu Youth for Social Development believes Kwahu can only experience the needed development only when there’s peace and tranquillity for people to engage in their day-to-day activities.
We call on the youth to remain calm and have confidence in the various leaders in ending the unfriendly development.
By Kojo Mensah
