Ghana Shippers Council reaches agreement with Boankra farmers

Ejisu (Ash), July 24, GNA - Aggrieved farmers of Boankra who threatened to use violence to stop the construction of the inland port because they have been cheated in the payment of compensation have rescinded their decision.

This followed a meeting by the farmers who number about 100, the Ghana Shippers Council, Nana Aboagye Agyei II, Ejisuhene and Mr Yaw Ahenkora Afrifa, the Ejisu-Juaben, District Chief Executive at Ejisu on Wednesday.

The farmers alleged that while those who had food crops, oil-palm plantations and other cash crops on the land received paltry sums ranging from 31,000 cedis to four million cedis, "ghost and faceless" farmers who neither had farms nor owed any parcel of the acquired land were paid between 14 million cedis and 20 million cedis.

It came out at the meeting that 19 farmers who did not own land at the acquired site negotiated with Mr. J.K. Fordjour, the assemblyman for Boankra, for their names to be presented as owning land at the project site.

Mr Kofi Mbiah, the Chief Executive of the Ghana Shippers Council, promised to take up the matter and gave the assurance that those who collected compensation without owning land would be dealt with after investigations.

He told the farmers that the Council would revalue the land of the aggrieved farmers for the appropriate compensation to be paid to them. The DCE asked all farmers who did not receive any compensation to submit their documents for action to be taken and promised to deal with the fraudsters.

Nana Aboagye Agyei expressed his appreciation to the farmers for the amicable resolution of the matter.