Tension mounts over attempts to destroy cocoa farms

By Alex Agyekum, GNA
Asiam (E/R), Aug 10, GNA - Asiam, a predominantly cocoa growing community near Coaltar in Ayensuano District is enveloped in tension over alleged attempts to seize their farms and turn these into a rubber plantation.

They had already staged a street protest to send a strong message that they were not ready to let their farms go.

The angry farmers, led by the Odikro, Nana Ohene Acquah, had earlier presented a petition to the District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr. Mike Ofori Darko, to intervene.

He claimed that the chief of Ayekokorso, Barima Ayeh, was behind the move to forcibly cut down the cocoa farms to pay way for the establishment of the rubber plantation.

He added that about 240 acres of land cultivated with cocoa had been earmarked for destruction and said that could threaten the livelihood of the farmers and their families.

Nana Acquah said they could simply not imagine seeing the enormous energy and resources put into the cocoa farming venture destroyed and appealed to the political leadership to step in to help save their investment.

GNA