Soldiers, cops stop afforestation demonstration

Armed police and military personnel have foiled a planned demonstration by some angry beneficiaries of the Youth in Agriculture and Afforestation programme under the Youth Employment Agency (YEA) in the Kumasi metropolis of the Ashanti Region.

The aggrieved beneficiaries had planned to picket the regional office of the Forestry Commission today, Tuesday, 4 November 2018 to petition and demand their unpaid allowance.

They told Class News’ regional correspondent Elisha Adarkwah that they have not been paid for about six months since their recruitment.

The joint police and military force took over the premises of the regional office of the Forestry Commission upon intelligence to protect public property.

The youth gathered behind the Lands Commission's office at Adum to march to the regional Forestry Commission office but the armed police officers led by the Deputy Regional Police Commander, DCOP Fred Adu Anim, stormed the point of convergence to disperse the demonstrators.

DCOP Anim said the protesters did not give the police prior notification about the protest.

He described the protest as unlawful and said their presence was disturbing to the public.

The angry beneficiaries, however, expressed disappointment with the way and manner the security and staff of the Forestry Commission had treated them.

Mr Thomas Okyere, Regional Director of the Forestry Commission told journalists that they had information about the planned protest and quickly requested for the presence of the police and military to protect lives and property.

He said the agitation disrupted activities of the commission as a result of the joint police and military presence at the commission's office.

He assured the beneficiaries that they will receive their unpaid allowance before Christmas and urged them to be patient.