ARTICLE:
More than 700 cash and food crop farmers at Agona Kwesi Twikrom (KTK) in the Agona East District of the Central Region have lost their livelihoods following the destruction of their farms by an investor.
The 250-acre farmland, containing cocoa, coconut, oranges, palm trees, cassava, maize, garden eggs and pepper, was allegedly cleared with bulldozers protected by macho land guards dressed in full military uniforms.
The investor is said to be preparing the land for pineapple cultivation.
Addressing a press conference, Mr. Albert Quainoo, former Assemblyman for Agona Kwesi Twikrom / Fawomanye Electoral Area and an affected farmer, said the destruction has thrown the community into shock.
He alleged that two members of the Yogo No. 2 Family of Agona Asafo, Messrs Yaw Nkum and Yaw Fosu, who claimed to be owners of the land, sold it to the investor without the consent of the entire family.
According to the farmers, when they got wind of the planned clearing, they reported to the Agona Swedru Divisional CID of the Ghana Police Service, but the police failed to stop it. They alleged CID officers rather prevented farmers and elders from stopping the destruction.
Mr. Quainoo said the two sellers allegedly told farmers the investor would not pay compensation because their crops were “flowers in their eyes.”
The farmers, who depend solely on farming, say life has become unbearable.
He recounted that an 82-year-old woman, Madam Efua Yamoawaa, died out of shock after hearing that her coconut plantation had been destroyed.
The affected farmers are appealing to President John Dramani Mahama, the Inspector General of Police, the Minister for Food and Agriculture, and the Minister for Interior to intervene, halt further destruction and ensure compensation.
Source Credit: kwesi-twikrom/ – via Access Agric._
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Excerpt: Over 700 farmers at Agona Kwesi Twikrom in Agona East protest destruction of 250-acre cocoa, coconut and food crop farms by investor; 82-year-old farmer dies of shock.
Tags:
Agona Kwesi Twikrom, Agona East, Farm Destruction, Albert Quainoo, Yogo Family, Pineapple Investor, Central Region, Cocoa Farmers, Access Agric
