The Kwahu Cattle Farmers Association in the Eastern Region is pleading with the president, His Excellency, Nana Addo Danquah Akuffo Addo to call the Operation Cow Leg force to order, because they are residents of Kwahu and not Fulanis.
The plea of the cattle farmers follows their concerns over the killing of their cattle.
President of the Kwahu Cattle Farmers Association, Mr. Albert Gudu said the operations of the task force have so far left hundreds of cattle killed.
“So far, six hundred and fifty one (651) cattle have been killed following the conflict between the Fulani herdsmen and the crop farmers that have also claimed some lives and left properties destroyed,” he lamented.
Speaking in an interview with Captain Adabugar during the Akuafo Sesen segment Rite Morning Ride, Mr. Gudu said cattle rearing remain the only business for residents of the area to make a living, regretting that the killing of their cattle will take them out of business and besides, that will not solve the problem.
Mr. Gudu while expressing fears over the possible collapse of cattle production said such a situation could “seriously affect us as a country because dairy products will be scarce to access and also pose a risk to the country’s food security and sustainability.”
The last six months have seen persistent conflicts between Fulani herdsmen and crop farmers who are residents of Kwahu which have led to loss of lives on both sides.
While the crop farmers have alleged that the nomads grazed their cattle on their farm produce and thereby destroying their farms, the herdsmen on the other hand have also accused the crop farmers of farming on their paths.
Following the conflicts, security personnel from the military and the police were deployed to the Kwahu community to protect lives and properties and also maintain law and order.
Meanwhile, government has set up the Cattle Ranching Project Committee to put mechanisms in place to find lasting solutions to the persistent conflicts between the Fulani herdsmen and the crop farmers that is claiming lives and destroying properties across the country.
When Dr. Oppong Anang, Chairman for the Cattle Ranching Project Committee was contacted on the measures put in place so far to curtail the menace, he said the committee which was set up seven (7) months ago was trying every possible means to put mechanisms in place to ensure that it finds a lasting solution to the problems to avert such occurrences in the future.
Source: Prince Paul Amuzu/www.ritefmonline.org/princeamuzu667@gmail.com
