ATEBUBU DISEC TO EJECT FULANI HERDSMEN (PAGE 35, MIRROR, JAN 23, 2010)

From Akwasi Ampratwum-Mensah, Atebubu

The Atebubu/Amantin District Security Committee (DISEC) has decided to eject Fulani herdsmen from the area to check the destruction of farmlands by their grazing cattle, as well as their alleged involvement in rape and other criminal activities.
Consequently, the committee has urged all Assembly members, chiefs, Unit Committee members, other opinion leaders and farmers to support the intended action to ensure that the people go to farm without fear of attacks from the Fulani men.
Mr Sanja Nanja, the District Chief Executive (DCE) for Atebubu/Amantin , who is also the chairman of the DISEC, disclosed the decision of the committee at a press briefing at Atebubu in the Brong Ahafo Region.
According to the DCE, the nefarious activities of the Fulanis had persisted for sometime now and that several attempts to meet them or their so-called “agents” had proved futile, hence the decision to drive them away from the district.
“Destroying our farms and unwilling to meet us has sparked off our action. We need them with their cattle but we cannot entertain their wicked ways of staying with our community members, especially the women folks,” the DCE cautioned.
Mr Nanja said the Assembly had no intention to arrange for any military force but would rather rely on the police and the community members, who are the direct sufferers of the harassment of those foreigners.
Mr Sanja Nanja explained that the involvement of the military in the past had not been successful as anytime the Fulanis heard of the soldiers, they ran away and came back later to take their positions.
Besides, he noted that, the reliance on the military would be a drain on the Assembly’s funds, which are solely meant for development.
The District Police Commander, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) John Adusei, noted that whenever  a Fulani herdsman committed an offence, some people who had styled themselves as agents came to plead on their behalf but failed to pay whatever compensation had been agreed upon.
Mr Amadu Kwasi Addo , the Chief Farmer for the area, also observed that the adult herdsmen normally left their cattle in the care of their children, who tend to lose control of the animals during grazing, resulting in the destruction of the farms.
He pointed out that the Fulanis were heavily armed and could inflict machete or gunshot wounds on whoever dared to approach them as they grazed their cattle.
A Station Officer of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), Emmanuel Tetteh, alleged that the Fulani herdsmen usually set fire to vast areas during the dry season so that their cattle would enjoy the fresh shooting leaves of trees and grass.