Fake military officers terrorize farmers

Some fake military officers are terrorizing farmers at Teacher Mantey and its surrounding communities in the Eastern region as part of moves to take over 20,000 acres of land from the farmers.

Protest by the farmers turned bloody as the fake military personnel stabbed one farmer to death recently.

A visit by the reporter to the communities revealed uneasy tension in the affected communities including Teacher Mantey, Kyekyewere, Yaw-Koko, Okanta, Amanase and Adoagyiri.

Information gathered by the paper indicated that the obviously angry farmers are preparing to crush the land guards who are wearing military uniforms and wielding guns and knives and hiding in their farmlands. The Assembly Member for Kyekyere, Som Abedi who is also the spokesperson for the affected land owners and farmers stated that the land was bought and occupied by their forefathers over 200 years ago. However, they have been served with a letter from Gyina Yie chambers, asking them to vacate the land within a month since the lands have been allocated to developers for developmental purposes.

He explained that efforts made to authenticate from the office of Okyenhene the letter served them had proven futile, adding that, the only explanation they had was that, a statutory declaration had been made on the land by the traditional council and subsequently published in the newspapers; hence residents with documents on their lands must provide them for consideration.

He said this compelled the Member of Parliament for the area, Ayeh Paye to place a caveat on the declaration; however grading and demolishing of structures, property and farm produce belonging to the farmers are still ongoing.

He said they cannot look on unconcerned and are planning to face the land guards squarely with guns and weapons.

He said the Ayensuano District Chief Executive has been petitioned on the matter and said he has referred the case to the district security council, but nothing has been done. Some of the farmers who spoke to the DAILY HERITAGE expressed their disgust over the matter, adding that they are now scared to go to their farmlands for fear of being chased out by the gangsters.