Chief of Asikasu in the Eastern region, Nana Berima Kwabena I has denied categorically claims to the effect that he is to blame for the mass destruction of cocoa farms at Asikasu. Reacting to the allegations, the chief of Asikasu told Rite news that he stood firmly against the release of any piece of land for rubber plantation as requested by the Okyehene during a meeting between them.
Nana Berima noted that his refusal to give out the land was because he had already given out a 1200 acre piece of land to residents of Bodwiase for pineapple cultivation.
Nana Opambuor Bonsu Boateng II, president of the Concerned Farmers Association of Ghana has over the past weeks charged against certain institutions and chiefs including Nana Berima Kwabena I whom he accused of sacrificing cocoa plantations for rubber production which many consider more financially rewarding than cocoa production.
Nana Berima in his defence said he sent his grandson, one Kwasi Konadu to the borders of Asikasu to make sure that people do not enter their land to plant the rubbers. He said his grandson rather betrayed him when he led the Ghana Rubber Estate to plant at Asikasu without his knowledge or consent.
He said Konadu then turned around to inform the affected farmers that their lands had been sold for rubbers cultivation, a situation he, the chief, knew nothing about. He added that the activities of the rubber plantations led to the destruction of 2000 hectares of cocoa plantation. This according to him has led to the cocoa buyers leaving the area because they don’t get cocoa to buy.
He said the residents of Asikasu believe that he is responsible for those decisions but it is not true. He said though the Koforidua High Court has put an injunction on the activities of the rubber planters, they still disobey the law. He accused his grandson of being corrupted withKwasi Konadu has taken Gh c 92,000 and a vehicle to support the awful act.
Source: ritefmonline.org
