Enact by-laws to control farmers and herdsmen - Cattle Farmer

The National Chairman for the Ghana National Association of Cattle Farmers, Imam Hanafi Sonde, has attributed the unhealthy relationship between farmers and herdsmen in the country to lack of effective by-laws.

According to him, there wouldn’t have been any problems between them if the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) had adopted by-laws to govern the affairs of farmers and herdsmen nationwide.

Imam Hanafi Sonde said this at a programme organized by the Kwahu Traditional Council at Donkorkrom in the Kwahu Afram Plains North District, which was `meant to foster good relationship between the two groups.

The event was chaired by Nana Asiedu Agyemang III, Abetifihene and Adontenhene of Kwahu and acting President of the Kwahu Traditional Council and supported by other chiefs, elders and stakeholders in the Afram Plains.

The District Chief Executive (DCE) of Kwahu South District Assembly, DCE of Kwahu East District Assembly, Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of Kwahu West Municipal Assembly and all departmental heads in the Kwahu Afram Plains North and South were also in attendance.

Issues discussed at the meeting included activities of Fulani herdsmen, bush fire and deforestation. According to Imam Hanafi Sonde, “I think the issue between these two parties create instability and undermine peace in various districts and communities in the country and I think it will be very dangerous if by-laws are not made to govern these two parties.”

On his part, Mr. Charles Kwowe Nyaaba, the programmes officer of the Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana, also said it would be better if Ghanaians took careful measures to handle these issues since Ghanaians are also in other parts of the world.

“Just like it’s done in other developed countries, there are rules of grazing animals. You have to confine your animals to one area and you don’t allow them to go and destroy somebody’s farm,” he said. Farmers in the Kwahu Afram Plains District had earlier called on the Kwahu Traditional Council to help resolve the impasse between the two parties.