Farmers caution Assembly members against irrigation land

Farmers of the Adjei Kojo Mobisquad Irrigation Scheme (AKMIS) at Ashaiman have appealed to the Ashaiman Municipal Assembly (ASHMA) to caution two of its Assembly Members against fighting the farmers over their irrigation land.

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency Mr Kingsley Kutiame, President of AKMIS, said his outfit had written to the Ashaiman Municipal Chief Executive to call the two assembly members, Mr Emmanuel Agboson and Thomas Adongo, to order else they would face the wrath of the farmers.

A copy of the letter dated January 20, 2013 addressed to the ASHMA CEO and signed by Mr Kutiame stated that the farmers were ready to face the Assembly members.

It alleged: “we wish to assure you that we are ready to face challenges from such hungry Ashaiman Assemblymen who are looking for lands to sell at Adjei Kojo/Gbeminya.”

The letter said January 20, 2013 the two assembly members led a group of 10 people with a pay-loader and started clearing a portion of land at Adjei Kojo/Gbeminya, owned by some members of the scheme.

Mr Kutiame, in the letter further said, when confronted, Mr Agboson and Mr Adongo alleged that the portion of the land in question had recently been added to their electoral areas, and as such, it was going to be used for a washing bay project.

When contacted, Mr Adongo debunked claims by the farmers that the assembly members wanted to take the land from them and use it for a washing bay.

He, however, confirmed that on the day in question, they went there to clear portions of the land which had been illegally given out to residents of Adjei-Kojo, which is located in the Tema Metropolis, to put on kiosks and containers.

Mr Adongo said the assembly members had no problem with the farmers, because he and the assembly members for Zongo Larka, Nii Doku, and Mantseman, visited the place and sensitized the people on the ownership of the land.

Mr Adongo said even though the land is outside the boundaries of the Tema Metropolitan Assembly (TMA), residents of Adjei-Kojo were using the land without contacting ASHMA.