Indiscriminate land sale by chief stirs up trouble

Indiscriminate land sale by the chief of Bruku-Ahodwo, near Sepaase in the Atwima-Nwabiagya District, Nana Kwame Bruku Fordjour, is fueling tension and widespread anger among the people.

An appeal has therefore been made to the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, to act quickly and bring him to order, to prevent matters from getting out of hand.

The community’s cemetery is already gone, and now, cocoa, citrus and food crop farms are being cut down to make way for the sale of those lands.

Mr James Adusei-Sarkodie, a former Member of Parliament (MP), and a royal of the town, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that the situation looked pretty bad and violent clashes appeared imminent.

“What is even more irritating is that monies realized remain unaccounted for by Nana Bruku.”

He said the expectation was that part of the proceeds should have gone into the development of the community and those who had lost their farms - their source of livelihood.

“This has not been the case and certainly things cannot be allowed to continue the way they are going.”

Nana Bruku is said to have lived about 20 years of his adult life in Europe and returned to the country only about three months ago to begin the seizure and sale of the lands to developers.

Mr Adusei-Sarkodie said, “If the chief thinks that this is the way he could make a fortune then he would be making a big mistake”. The royal family, together with the people would not accept that.