A wider view of the event grounds
Residents of Agogo in the Ashanti Region have boycotted the district celebration of Ghana’s 59th Independence citing government’s failure to address the Fulani crisis in the area.
The development has apparently forced the organisers to move the event, which is always held in Agogo township, to a small town, Domeabra, in the district, but the Asante Akyem North District Assembly has denied the claim, noting it is a mere coincidence.
TV3’s Ashanti Regional correspondent Evans Nkum reports that the youth had earlier threatened to boycott today’s event grounding their decision on the destruction of their farmlands and killing of farmers by Fulani herdsmen who have invaded the area.
Although officials were expecting about 60 schools at the event, our correspondent reports that the numbers that turn up for the show are far below the figures.
He reports that only a handful of residents could be seen at the event grounds with just two chiefs from Domeabra and Pekyerekye present.
District Chief Executive, Paul Kinsley Arweh-Avru, described the situation as unfortunate and politically motivated, claiming that a parliamentary candidate went round urging the residents to boycott the celebration politically.
He explained that the change in venue was the result of a decision to decentralise the venue for the commemoration and has nothing whatsoever to do with the threat by the Agogo youth.
According to him, the assembly had already planned to decentralize the venue for the commemoration.
The DEC accused the New Patriotic Party parliamentary candidate for the area, Appiah Kubi of being behind the boycott, saying, “Some political parties are going round telling people to boycott the event. Somebody who has not already become parliamentary candidate has started doing that”.
He said the action by the candidate demonstrate how he will “misuse” the power if elected as the Member of Parlaiment for the area.
According to him, the assembly and the officials from the Education Service had to go round with a counter announcement in order for some parents to release their children to partake in the celebration
But Mr Appiah Kubi has denied the allegation by the DCE, arguing, “It’s not me saying it. All of us are saying it and it’s a general advise to all membership of Asante Akyem North.”
According to him, even the National Democratic Congress parliamentary candidate issued a statement in which she advised the people not to take part in the celebrations.
“I have witnessed the statement issued out by the NDC parliamentary candidate also advising supporters of the party not to participate and she herself has also indicated that she is not participating,” he claimed.
He added: “The only reason that we don’t want to participate in this programme is that we don’t have the peace; we don’t have the independence that will motivate us in going into the celebrations,”
He said the people of Agogo have nothing to celebrate when the Fulani herdsmen are haunting them.
“As far as we are concerned, our prayer has not been answered by the government and it is the government that has the power to protect us and to give us peace. If the government is failing in that endeavour we don’t see any reason why we should promote the government’s interest of celebrating the occasion,” Mr Kubi said.
He said what the people want is for the government to get the last cattle and the last Fulani away from their lands.
