Asante-Akim North spends one billion cedis to combat herdsmen

The Asante-Akim North District Assembly has since 1997 spent over one billion cedis to combat activities of Fulani herdsmen in the Afram Plains area of the district.

The amount mainly covered fuel and meals for military personnel who were occasionally deployed to the area to protect lives and properties of residents who have been under incessant attacks from the Fulani herdsmen.

Mr George Frimpong, the District Chief Executive, said this at the inauguration and passing out of 35 fire volunteers at Agogo.

Mr Frimpong, who was commenting on the major causes of rampant fire outbreaks in the district, said the herdsmen were the worst culprits saying the assembly would continue to be on their heels until they were completely driven out of the district.

He expressed concern about the numerous atrocities inflicted on residents of the Afram Plains over the years by the herdsmen and described them as militants.

Mr Frimpong said the herdsmen were armed with sophisticated firearms and recounted an occasion when the police had to retreat in an operation to swoop on them.

He said the situation had necessitated the occasional deployment of the military to the area and that the cost involved was draining the assembly's resources.