Farmers Urged To Stop Land Litigation

Hotopo (Western Region) 8 Dec., Farmers in the Ahanta west District have expressed concern over rampant land litigations which is hampering farming activities in the region. In addition, they said, the largest portion of the Ahanta lands have been taken over by oil palm and rubber plantations belonging to the National Oil Palm Limited (NOPL) and the Ghana Rubber Estate Limited (GREL). Mr.. E. K. Anaman, a farmer and assemblyman for Hotopo expressed the concern on behalf of the farmers at this year's Ahanta West District Farmers' Day Celebration at Hotopo during the weekend. They, therefore, appealed to the District Chief Executive, Lt-Col Ekow Jones and the Chiefs in the area to help solve the problem. The farmers suggested that NOPL and GREL should be convinced to release part of their undeveloped lands to farmers in the area for increased food production. They also appealed to the government to rehabilitate roads in the district, most of which are unmotorable, to facilitate evacuation of food produce to market centres. The farmers also asked the District Assemblies to negotiate with the NOPL and GREL managements to institute a scholarship fund for school children in the district. In all, 73 farmers were honoured and presented with various prizes including bicycles, spraying machines, wellington boots, cutlasses, clothes, wall clocks and certificates. Mr.. Eric Cartey of Agona Aboabo was adjudged the overall best district farmer and was presented with a bicycle, a spraying machine, a pair of Wellington boots, two cutlasses, a full piece of cloth and a certificate. Mr.. J.A.F. Cudjoe was adjudged the second best District Farmer while Nana Kwesi Sagu and Mr. Kweku Nka followed third and fourth best District Farmers respectively and were each presented with a bicycle, a pair of Wellington boots, a half piece of cloth, a wall clock, two cutlasses and a certificate.

Gri.