Youth declare expartriate persona non grata

The people and youth of Yilo Krobo have declared John Vonberg, an expatriate director of Bonsu Vonberg Farms (a teak plantation), a persona non grata in the area.

This stems from charges of assault levelled against him by the Krontihene and Nyewer Divisional Chief of Somanya, Nene Akpatsu Azzah IV.

As such, they have threatened that John Vonberg enters the area at his own risk. Vonberg, it is alleged, has fled the country.

The main gate leading to the farm has been barricaded whiles security on the farm has been replaced with the town’s folk. Also, workers on the plantation have vamoosed from the premises and a tractor seized.

Angry citizens of the town numbering about 70 and holding placards with inscriptions such as “No more Dutch Jews to step on our land at Somanya,” “Vonberg go to Holland and spit on your chief’s face” and “John Vonberg why did you spit on our chief’s face?” among others marched to the premises of the farm looking for Vonberg.

The demonstrators climaxed their action with the pulling down of the billboard leading to the premises.

The demonstrators, led by Armstrong Amoateng Narh, expressed their disgust and apprehension at the molestation meted out to their chief..

A charged Narh said “these expatriates have been given a free hand and now they are visiting their racist taunts on our chiefs. No amount of pacification can correct the situation.”

How can you insult a chief let alone slap and spit on him, he questioned.

Briefing the press in his palace, Nene Akpatsu Azzah IV said he went to the Aviation offices of Bonsu Vonberg Farms Limited to present a petition on behalf of his people.

This, he said, was about a KVIP in the terms of agreement the company promised as part of its social responsibility towards the community.

Vonberg, he said, fell into tantrums and told him that if they wanted a toilet facility, then they should join the monkeys in the bush.

This, he said, did not go down well with him so he told the expatriate to respect his office as chief but scarcely had he finished than Vonberg tore his ornaments, slapped and spat in his face.

The chief said he later reported to the Airport police where he was issued with a medical form to attend hospital. Giving a background to the case, the chief said the community allotted 1,300 acres of land to BonsuVonberg Farms some eight years ago and as part of the agreement, the company was to provide the community with a KVIP toilet among others.

Upon constant pressure from his people, he decided to contact Vonberg for him to honour his part of the deal but he was met with this brutish attitude.

Meanwhile, the other director of the company, Mr. Osei-Bonsu is also staying away from the plantation.

The chief later appealed for calm among the agitated youth and called on the appropriate authority handling the case to do so expeditiously.

The citizens also called on the Ministry of Interior to deport John Vonberg if the alleged assault case is substantiated.