Brong Ahafo farmers declared foreigners in Dadieso Enchi

The Parliamentary Committee on Interior and Defence has been asked to liase with the Ministry of Interior to bring about law and order in the Dadieso Enchi Traditional Area in the Western Region.

The First Deputy Speaker, Hon. Freddie Blay who presided, gave the order after members had contributed to a statement on "Ghana farmers declared foreigners in Ghana" by Mrs Anna Nyamekye, NPP-Jaman.

The members said over 70 farmers from the Brong Ahafo Region have been driven out of their farms in the Dadieso Enchi Traditional Area in the Western Region adding that "The Farmers have had their farms forcibly taken from them by the chiefs and people of the area."

She said the farmers who mostly came from Jaman District had contracted the land through the laid down traditions and customs of the area. Mrs Nyamekye who is also the Deputy Minister of Environment and Science, said she tried to resolve the matter through peaceful negotiations with the chiefs and people of the area but "all efforts and overtures made were to no avail."

"I find it hard to believe that the scenario of land seizure from so called 'foreigners' in their own country is unveiling here in Ghana and not in some well known African country," she noted.

She said: "The chief who is alleged to have given the quit order is a retired police Commissioner. So it is not as if he does not understand his actions." Papa Owusu Ankomah, Majority Leader, called on the security agencies to move swiftly to restore law and order in the area.

He said the aggrieved persons should also resort to the Law courts to redeem their assets. The Majority Leader said government is pursuing a uniform land tenure system for the whole country and that government would not countenance such lawlessness.

Joseph Boahene Aidoo, Western Regional Minister, said the people of the area are lawless and live like" an island from the rest of the region".

He said the law of the jungle prevails in the area but when he tried to bring them to book" some people called me all sorts of names, some even say that I'm involving myself in their chieftaincy affairs."

Isaac Adjei-Mensah, Deputy Minority Leader, said the chief has erred and can not justify what he has done by any law or tradition Captain Nkrabea Effa Dartey (Rtd), NPP-Berekum, said government should solve the problem once and for all since it could bring about reprisals which would fatal.

He said while nations in Europe are uniting, we "in Ghana, a small country are drawing apart. We are all Ghanaians living under one law, one administration, no Ghanaian is a foreigner anywhere."

Other members called for a holistic approach to issue since the issue of "the settler farmer" is costing the nation a lot.