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04.02.2016 Editorial

Is Ghana Sitting On A Time Bomb?

By Ghanaian Chronicle
Is Ghana Sitting On A Time Bomb?
04.02.2016 LISTEN

For some time now, the media landscape has been awash with reports of the alleged brutalities being meted out to residents of Agogo in the Ashanti Region by Fulani herdsmen operating in the area.

The nomads have been supervising their cattle to destroy farms of the residents and when they protest, the men are shot and killed, whilst the women are raped at gun point.

The people of Agogo have been protesting against the conduct of the nomads, but it seems their pleas have fallen on the deaf ears of the higher authorities.

Matters reached its peak last week when a fetish priest to the Agogo Traditional Council was gunned down by an alleged Fulani herdsman for protesting against the destruction of his farm. The herdsman fired the shot from close range, thus virtually dismembering the head of his victim.

It was this latest development that prompted the Member of Parliament for the area, Kwadwo Baah Agyeman, to lead the youth in a protest and threatening to deal with the situation if the security agencies would not act.

Following the massive publicity given to the Agogo incident, chiefs from other traditional areas have also gone public, threatening to deal with the Fulani herdsmen operating in their traditional areas for destroying their farms and threatening them with death when they protest.

Yesterday, The Chronicle published a story from Togbe Agyeman II from Adaklu Wumenu in the Volta Region who quoted the Fulani herdsmen as boasting that they could not be arrested even though they are destroying people's farms because the animals are owned by top state officials – including ministers, police, military officers and a host of others.

Whilst discussing the story on Adom FM, an Accra based private radio station; a chief from the Okwahu traditional area also called into the programme and alleged that the Fulani herdsmen are causing similar destruction in his area.

The chief recounted how a farmer and his son who is a student were shot on a motor bike by these herdsmen, because they protested against the raiding of their farm by the cattle. He also warned that if nothing was done about the unhealthy development, he and his people would take the law into their own hands to deal with the situation.

From the narrations we have given, it is clear that Ghana is currently sitting on a time bomb which explosion could spell doom for the country. As the Akan adage goes, when you frequently chase a timid man, he will one day call off your bluff.

Innocent farmers are being killed, maimed and raped for protesting against the destruction of their farm lands, which is their only source of livelihood, and if the police are not prepared to handle the situation, they will one day also meet these herdsmen boot for boot and that is where the danger lies.

The Chronicle is, therefore, suggesting to Parliament to summon the Minister of Interior to explain to the House and the good people of Ghana, why despite the massive publicity being given to the subject, he and his men have failed to tackle the problem head on.

The Chronicle concedes that it is the police who are in charge of the internal security of this country and that they should rather be questioned, but readers would also agree that the Ghana Police Service falls under the Ministry of Interior which supervises its programmes and activities.

The sector minister must, therefore, be held responsible for any lapses that occur in the course of the police discharging their duties. It is good that President Mahama has reshuffled Mr. Mark Woyongo, the outgoing Interior minister, because it is clear that he has failed in the performance of his duties. The Fulani menace could have been a thing of the past if the Interior Ministry had done its homework well, but regrettably this has not happened.

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