Youth demonstrate against the Omanhene of Dormaa

Youth at Abesim, together with some elderly people, on Monday demonstrated against the Omanhene of Dormaa, Osagyefo Agyemang Badu 11 and their own chief, Nana Barima Kumi Achiaw II, for indiscriminately selling Abesim lands without the consent of the family to which the lands had been bequeathed.

The demonstrators, clad in red and black cloths, marched from the Abesim Township to the outskirt of Sunyani – a distance of about 15 kilometers – and back to Abesim to present a petition to Nana Achiaw.

But the chief refused to take the petition saying his subjects disrespected him when he earlier approached the leaders to rescind the decision to go on demonstration.

The demonstration, which drew a large number of policemen to the Abesim community, was rather peaceful, contrary to claims that it would turn violent.

In their petition, the youth said Osagyefo Agyeman Badu 11, whom the people of Abesim owe allegiance to, was selling Abesim lands, including those bought through proper channels by people who are not natives of the area.

They maintained that the king had been reselling those lands to different people and even adding plots of land already earmarked for schools, hospitals, markets, toilets, refuse dump and recreational centers.

According to them, if care was not taken to halt the action of the king, a time would come when they would not get any parcels of land for farming, which is the major occupation in the area.

The protesters held placards, some of which read, “No land for recreational centers,” “Sika Die Basa, Basa,” “We Need outlands,” “No farm lands,” and “Is this the legacy you are leaving us?”

On their return from the protest match to Abesim, they reportedly spotted the Kyidomhene of Dormaa, Nan Bani Kumi Chiaw, in his car and blocked him from going to Sunyani, thinking he was running away from the town.

When the chief returned to his palace and the leaders of the demonstration presented to him the petition to be forwarded to the Dormaa chief, he refused to take it, saying his subjects did not accord him respect.

The youth later gathered at the Abesim taxi rank and were addressed by a member of the coalition of opinion leaders, Kwabena Owusu Aduomire, who claimed that the petition would be taken to the Dormaahene.