Security agencies, youth groups in Agogo clinch deal

The security agencies, farmers and youth groups in Agogo in the Asante Akyem North District in the Ashanti Region yesterday agreed to a road map to flush out Fulani herdsmen as they pose a security threat to the people of the area.

After separate meetings between top security officials and the traditional leaders, farmers and youth groups in Agogo, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr John Kudalor, told the press that very soon the public would see some of the action plans on the ground.

The delegation also held a closed-door meeting with the leadership of the youth, who were represented by the Member of Parliament for the area, Mr Kwadwo Baah

Agyapong, and the Communications Director of the National Democratic Party (NDP), Mr Ernest Owusu-Bempah.

Mr Kudalor declined to give details of the road map but said the parties had agreed on it to bring a lasting solution to what he termed as a perennial problem.

He, however, said part of the actions to be taken included the erection of tents for the security personnel on some of the farms and also spreading the coverage area of the patrol team on the ground.

Road map
The security delegation was in the area following almost a week of unrest in Agogo and its surrounding villages over attacks on the residents by the nomadic Fulani herdsmen.

Receiving the security delegation on behalf of Nana Akuoku Sarpong, the Omanhene of the Agogo Traditional Area, the Krontihene of the area, Nana Boakye Yiadom, said the people were fed up with the Fulani herdsmen.

'We are fed up with the Fulani herdsmen and so kindly get them out of the area. Wherever they come from, please let them go back there,' he said.

He said the people of Agogo could no longer tolerate the activities of the herdsmen in the area and that it was time for the security agencies to get them out.

The Krontihene expressed the gratitude of the traditional council to the security agencies in general and the Ashanti Regional Security Council (REGSEC) in particular for visiting the area and sending some men to beef up security there.

He said even though the residents could stand up and defend themselves against these herdsmen, 'we will allow you to implement the road map to get them out so that our farmers could go back to their farming activities'.

Satisfaction
Speaking to the Daily Graphic after the meeting with the security capos, Mr Owusu-Bempah said the youth were satisfied with the road map and hopeful that it would bring a lasting solution to the problem.

According to him, the main issue of the youth was for the police to regain the confidence of the public and deter the Fulani herdsmen from committing those heinous crimes.

Reaction
However, some of the residents told the Daily Graphic that they were unwilling to follow any road map and called for an immediate flushing out of the herdsmen.

They claimed the security agencies were in bed with the herdsmen, for which reason they failed to act when crimes committed by the herdsmen were reported to them.

They alleged that the police protected the 'foreigners' more than the citizens of Ghana.

REGSEC
At a press briefing last Wednesday, the Chairman of the REGSEC gave the end of March 2016 as the deadline for driving away the nomadic herdsmen from the town and its environs.

He said the REGSEC would also set up an early warning system to detect the time of arrival of the nomads in the region to enable the REGSEC to track them.