GSAP makes recommendations to end problems of Fulani herdsmen

Accra, Nov. 10, GNA – Ghana Society of Animal Production (GSAP) on Thursday, called for a review of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Protocol on Livestock and Transhumance to control activities of Fulani herdsmen.

It also proposed a grassland policy with focus on the introduction of adapted exotic grass and legume species to restock areas, particularly in the interior savannah, where large tracts of land had been abandoned due to soil impoverishment and heavy weed invasion.

The proposals formed part of strategies put across by executive members of GSAP to improve the recent conflicts caused by alien Fulani herdsmen to residents at Agogo in the Asante Akim North Municipality of Ashanti Region.

Addressing a press conference in Accra, Dr Richard Osei-Amponsah, Secretary of GSAP, noted that the illegal activities of the herdsmen had negative social implications.

He expressed doubts that the National Livestock Policy target, which aimed at increasing supply of meat, animal and dairy products from domestic production at the aggregate level of 30 per cent in 2004 to 80 per cent by 2015, would be attained.

“We have only four years to go, while the annual growth rate of the domestic supplies has been low. We are currently still below 50 per cent production. The situation is likely to render the target unachievable,” he added.

Dr Osei-Amponsah said GSAP was prepared to render assistance to government to design and implement strategies to enhance development of domestic livestock production to forestall conflicts caused by activities of Fulani herdsmen.

Mr Michael Asomani-Adem, President of GSAP, said the press conference was organised to state the position of members on the current seeming impasse between government and residents of Agogo Traditional Area over activities of Fulani herdsmen and to offer solutions.

GNA