Head of the Herdsmen Community in the Ashanti Region, Alhaji Osman Bin Ahmed is calling for increased patrols and checks at the country’s borders to control the entry of cattle.
This, according to him will help government regulate the number of cattle entering the country and track activities of cattle herders.
[contextly_sidebar id=”hATO03s4yKDZwxysDvKaLrFJ5mDVSRra”]Farmer-herder clashes which are predominant in the Kumawu, Asante Akyem North, Sekyere Afram Plains and the Sekyere Central Districts of the Ashanti Region has led to several deaths and loss of property worth millions.
Speaking to Citi News, Alhaji Bin Ahmed emphasized the need for proper border control to help curb the menace.
“The number of cattle that comes in from Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, the government should know and there should be a route so you know where to move the cattle. Along the lines, there are grazing areas, there are boreholes where they can take water and the government can charge and make more money out of it but in Ghana cattle just enter anywhere and nobody knows what happens.”
“At the end of the day, it creates more problems. If cattle are moving from Burkina Faso we have to know the number of cattle and who is bringing them. The route, the destination. It is hard time we start looking at this industry to make sure that the right thing is done.”
This suggestion comes on the back of a recurring invasion of farms by cattle, compelling government to introduce the cattle ranching law which is expected to provide a lasting solution to the incessant crop farmers and herdsmen clashes in parts of the country.
Recurring farmer-herder clashes at Agogo in the Ashanti region and parts of the Eastern region have led to loss of lives and destruction of properties.
Peasant farmers, cattle owners agree on plan to end clashes
The Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana and Cattle Owners Association of Ghana, have agreed on a 12-point solution that is envisioned to end the recurring invasion of farms by cattle.
The document, according to the two groups, will be presented to Parliament for consideration.
A member of the draft committee, Alhaji Ahmed Bogobiri, said the document will also map out routes for herdsmen and their cattle to prevent the destruction of farms.
“We are coming up with a 12-point study which will help us to come up with suggestions to parliament to see if they can come up with a law which will guide the herdsmen as to how they can take care of their animals so that they won’t go out to destroy our farms,” he said
I’ll permanently tackle farmer-herder clashes – Nana Addo
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has said his administration is devising measures to address the long-standing-conflict between nomadic herdsmen and local residents permanently.
In a meeting with leaders of nomadic herdsmen communities of Fulani extraction, the President expressed concerns about the persistent clashes describing it as worrying.
“I am very encouraged by the offer of the task-force. They will work together in your community and the law enforcement agencies to make sure anybody who wants to misbehave is dealt with appropriately.”
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By: Marian Ansah| citinewsroom.com | Ghana
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