Farmers petition Woyongo

Some aggrieved farmers of Teshie Demo Town, a suburb of Accra who had their farms allegedly destroyed by some military personnel from the Teshie Barracks a couple of weeks ago have petitioned the Chief Justice, Her Ladyship, Georgina Wood and the Minister of Defence, Mark Owen Woyongo for compensation.

They have also petitioned President Mahama to ensure they are compensated for the loss they have incurred due to the destruction of their okro and corn farms by the military personnel.

The farmers numbering about thirteen (13) made the petition through Daily Guide last Monday in Accra.

According to them, some soldiers led by the Commanding Officer (CO) of the Teshie Barrack three weeks ago stormed their farms situated between the Teshie and Nungua townships and forcibly ejected them from the farm claiming “it is a military land.”

They said they appealed to the soldiers to give them some time to harvest their produce before leaving the land since according to them their crops were already nearing harvesting.

The farmers lamented that the soldiers refused to listen to them and threatened to forcibly weed their crops off the land if they decline to leave.

The matter, they said, was reported to the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of Ledzokuku-Krowor Municipal Assembly (LEDKMA), Seth Badu Tawiah who invited the soldiers for discussion but they(soldiers) refused to honor the invitation.

Alhaji Dauda, one of the aggrieved farmers narrated to Daily Guide that the soldiers after refusing to meet with the MCE destroyed their crops on the land.

According to the farmers, they contracted loans from financial institutions for the farm project with the hope of repaying after harvesting the produce. They lamented that now that the crops were destroyed, they can’t pay back the loans “and the banks might come chasing us for their monies.”

They have consequently pleaded with President Mahama to come to their aid and ensure that justice is done.

Efforts to get in touch with the LEKMA DCE did not yield any fruits. The paper learnt he had travelled out of town when it called at his office.