Farmers call on Defence Ministry to save them from victimisation

Agona Kenyanko (C/R), May 5, GNA - Farmers at Keyanko in the Agona East District of the Central Region, have appealed to the Ministry of Defence to save them from what they described as victimization by a Warrant Officer (WO) of the Army. The farmers, who named the officer as WO II Kwesi Asare directed their appeal to the Minister of Defence and the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS).

Briefing journalists about the issue, the spokesman for the farmers, Mr Kwame Essel, said WO II Asare, who owns a farm in the community, is noted to be killing every animal he sees on and around his farm on grounds that they were destroying his farm. He said last Friday, May 1, WO II Asare shot and killed two sheep around the farm adding that several appeals made to him to fence the farm did not work. Mr Essel further alleged that when WO II killed the sheep, the matter was reported to the Chief of the town, Nana Kwesi Acquah, but he (WO II Asare) refused to cooperate with the chief and his elders for an amicable settlement.

According to Mr Essel, last year WO II Asare killed a total of nine sheep and goats belonging to farmers in the community. Mrs Hannah Awusi, a trader of the town told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that the people, especially children and women were living in fears due to the frequent gun shots by WO II Asare. When the GNA contacted WO II Asare on telephone, he did not deny the matter and said he shot and killed any animal he found destroying his farm.

He said the rate at which sheep and goats destroy his 40 acres maize plantation leaves much to be desired. WO II Asare said he had invested much labour and money into his farm and appealed to the people not to allow their animals to stray into or near his farm.

He also expressed concern that the people had refused to abide by an agreement they arrived at. According to him the came to an agreement that they (farmers) would open their animals after 1500 hours, by which time his farm labourers would be on the farm to prevent the animals from entering. Meanwhile, he has promised to pay for the cost of the two animals he killed last Friday to restore peace and unity.