Pakyi residents battle chief over seizure of lands

People of Pakyi No. 2 in the Amansie West District of the Ashanti Region have accused their Chief, Nana Kyei Asiamah Aduakwa II of turning the community into a Police state by confiscating farm lands from families.

Opinion leaders, residents and settler farmers complained that the chief has engaged the police to cow residents into submission as he takes over farm lands measuring over 400 acres.

Heads of various clans and family; including Ekuona, Kontire, Aduana , Akwansrafo and Twafo told journalists at a press conference that Nana Asiamah Aduakwa was unilaterally taking over about 400 acres of farm lands without reference to the heads .

The secretary of the group, Opanin Adu-Poku said the chief was destroying cocoa, orange and maize farms for a proposed solar energy project for which pillars are being erected on the said lands.

The spokesman for the aggrieved family members said the chief had unlawfully annexed 95 percent of developed land and five percent to be developed soon, which landmass is made of 70% cocoa farms, 20% citrus , 8% oil palm ,1.4 % bedaa (medicinal plant), 1% avocado and 0.5% banana, with the remaining percentage being for pepper, okro, garden eggs, tomatoes, ayoyo, eggplant, cabbage and maize, and that the chief has also destroyed cocoyam, cassava, plantain, cocoyam and yam.

Opanin Adu-Poku mentioned that settler communities hard hit by the chiefs activities and unlawful demarcation include Samanhyiakrom, Tweapiase, Abom, Bredi, Camp, Nanhini, Mpranease and Bensaso.

Police intimidation

The leaders narrated that attempts to secure a permit to embark on peaceful demonstration to highlight their grievances have been refused by the police. Instead, the police are intimidating people who oppose the chief.

The aggrieved settlers, who claim to have sent several petitions to Manhyia Palace and the National House of Chiefs but to no avail have, therefore, called on the Inspector General of Police to restrain the Police in Kumasi from getting involved in Pakyi land and Chieftaincy disputes.

The Public Relation Officer of the Ashanti Regional Police Command, ACP Mohammed Tanko told The Chronicle in a telephone interview that the people of Pakyi misrepresented facts to the police; hence they were stopped from embarking on the demonstration.

He also said the proposed Solar Energy project was initiated by Manhyia Palace and that Nana Kyei Asiamah Aduakwa II, cannot be accused of taking over 400 acres of land. PRO Tanko debunked accusation of intimidation by the police.

When contacted the Chief of Pakyi No. 2 declined to comment on the alleged seizure of 400 acres lands and directed this reporter to go to the Chief of Manhyia (Manhyiahene) for more information.