Agogo Citizens Assoc - Washington Metro Area

High Court annuls Grunzah's cattle agreement

Sat, 21 Jan 2012 03:05:00 +0000

court in Kumasi has annulled an agreement between the Agogo Traditional Council and football administrator and cattle owner Alhaji Grunsah, which allows his cattle herded by Fulanis, to graze in the area.

The Agogo Residents Association, which has been protesting the presence of the nomads in the area, took the matter to court last year.

They accuse the nomads of destroying crops and raping women in the area.

In court Friday the judge terminated the agreement between the Agogo Traditional Council and the Fulani herdsmen, signed in 2006.

Luv FM’s Kwabena Ampratwum, who was in court told Joy News’ Israel Laryea the area in question was a forest reserve which could only be released for any purpose by the Forestry Commission and not the Agogo Traditional Council.

Alhaji Gurunsah, Mr Ampratwun, said, was not in court.

Source//Ghanaweb

Agogo residents fume as Fulani herdsmen return

Sun, 11 Dec 2011 03:50:00 +0000

Fulani herdsmen who were driven out of Agogo, a farming community in the Asante Akim District some two weeks ago, have reportedly returned to the area, infuriating residents in the community.

The nomads were evicted from the vicinity after months of escalated bloodshed between them and residents who accused the herdsmen of various crimes - destroying their farms, raping and murdering locals.

A dweller in the community, Kingsley Obeng who speaks for the Agogo Residents Association, stated on Joy FM’s Newsnight Friday that the nomads have returned.

According to him, security personnel succeeded in driving the herdsmen out of their land but added that most of them have returned now that security presence in the vicinity has diminished.

The residents, he said, are very unhappy about the situation.

But Ashanti Regional Commander of Police Striking Force, Superintendent Prince Gabriel Waaabu - who led efforts to evict the herdsmen - contradicted Kingsleys claims.

He said it was untrue the nomads had returned to the area.

“Should anybody report such an incident I think the person might be throwing dust into the public’s eye.”

He said no report has been made to the Police and insisted there still exists tight security in the area. Military and Police personnel, according to the commander, are still on the ground.

“So whatever he [Kingsley] is saying there is a total lie.”

Superintendent Waaabu noted he was satisfied with the work done as far as evicting the herdsmen from Agogo was concerned and said he doubted they would dare return to the area.

This is because the nomads were warned they would be killed by security personnel should they step in Agogo while their cattle would be confiscated by government.

Agogo residents want Nana Akuoko Sarpong destooled

Wed, 07 Dec 2011 23:05:00 +0000

Some citizens of Agogo in the Ashanti Region are petitioning the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, to destool the Omanhene of the area, Nana Akuoko Sarpong and other sub chiefs.

Luv FM’s Elton John Brobbey confirmed the presentation of the petition by the angry youth group.

He quoted a source as telling the petitioners that the Asantehene was not interested in destooling chiefs but assured them their concerns would be looked into.

A member of the Agogo Omanbakuo Kwaku Mensah told Joy News that the people say they don’t want Nana Akuoko Sarpong because of his involvement in the Fulani herdsmen issue and other 'atrocities' that he and other sub chiefs in the area have committed.

He said the people no longer see Nana Akuoko Sarpong as their chief.

November meeting

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 04:00:00 +0000

New Executive members have been nominated and please look forward for the inaugural ceremony next month.

For the time being, our Chaiman elect is Jeoseph K. Preko (JK)

Vice Chariman: Kennedy Ampong

Secretary: Rebecca Asantewaa

Watch out for the full list of the new nominated Executive members.

Attendance!!!!!!

I Did No Wrong - Says Nana Akuoko Sarpong Over Fulani Herdsmen Furore

Sat, 26 Nov 2011 01:30:00 +0000

I Did No Wrong - Says Nana Akuoko Sarpong Over Fulani Herdsmen Furore. Nana Akuoko Sarpong - AgogoheneThe Paramount Chief of the Agogo Traditional Area, Nana Akuoko Sarpong, Wednesday broke his long silence on the furore over Fulani herdsmen in the Agogo area, denying allegations that he signed a secret pact with the herdsmen.

He also refuted claims that he derived personal benefits from the occupation of the herdsmen on Agogo Stool lands.

He conceded that there was an agreement between the Agogo Traditional Council and the Fulani herdsmen, but said that the agreement was signed at an open ceremony in 2006, adding that the proceeds accruing from the tenancy of the four-year deal were collected by the Administrator of Stool Lands.

“So there was no secrecy about this. It was an open house arrangement and discussion.

“It’s not the practice of the Agogo Traditional Council to enter into secret pacts”, he told the Daily Graphic in an exclusive interview Wednesday.

Over the past few months, the people of Agogo have waged a relentless campaign to flush out Fulani herdsmen from the area, accusing the herdsmen of destroying farms, raping women and girls, killing people and indulging in all kinds of criminal activities.

The issue generated a lot of passion and public discussion with some citizens of Agogo at one point taking a militant and radical approach by resolving not to allow the paramount chief to perform the funeral and burial rites of his uncle.

National Security eventually intervened and gave an ultimatum to the Fulani herdsmen to vacate Agogo lands or risk forceful ejection.

As the hullabaloo on the Fulani herdsmen raged, the Paramount Chief of Agogo remained silent because he thought that the nature of media reportage on the matter did not make it appropriate for him to comment, apart from the fact that the media did not deem it necessary to seek his opinion.

“I don’t own cattle. My passion is planting trees and doing fish farming”, Nana Akuoko said, indicating that he has planted 10,000 hectares of teak trees.

“Sometimes, there is merit in the old wise saying that silence is golden and that genius is knowing when and where to stop”, he remarked.

Nana Akuoko Sarpong explained that the agreement signed between the Agogo Traditional Council and the Fulani herdsmen included conditions for the herdsmen to provide fencing for the cattle on the land they occupied and dig boreholes for the water needs of the animals.

He said to seal the agreement and in line with custom, the Fulani herdsmen were requested to pay GH¢5000 for drinks to the traditional council, a payment to which receipt was duly issued with the copies of the agreement kept at the municipal assembly.

According to Nana Akuoko Sarpong, the decision to sign the agreement was in the best interest of the people of Agogo, since the essence of it was to promote a meat industry in the area.

“I don’t regret entering into the agreement with the herdsmen because it was a perfect arrangement to sustain the growth of the meat industry”, he said.

He said the traditional council, realising that the Fulani herdsmen had breached the terms of the agreement in respect of fencing the land for the cattle and digging boreholes for the animals, initiated a legal action against them.

The Agogohene said currently, some Brazilian industrialists were in Agogo to study how cattle rearing had been successfully married with communal farming.

Nana Akuoko Sarpong said everything was going smoothly until nomadic herdsmen from Niger, Mali and other neighbouring West African countries invaded the area and began to create problems.

He said under normal circumstances, the traditional council should have dealt with the issue but it did not have the capacity to do so, hence the relevance of National Security intervention.

He said the menace of the Fulani herdsmen was not peculiar to Agogo, but other areas, particularly in the Afram Plains, which spanned the Northern, Brong Ahafo, Eastern and Volta regions, except that the Agogo case had been hyped by the media.

Nana Akuoko Sarpong said the Agogo Traditional Council shared the worries of the people and would ensure that the Fulani herdsmen were flushed out of the area to safeguard their farms and property.

He, therefore, appealed to the people to be peaceful, law-abiding and go about their farming activities without any fear.

He expressed gratitude to the security agencies for throwing their weight behind the traditional council to deal with the situation.

Open letter to the President from a concern citizen of Agogo

Tue, 01 Nov 2011 23:45:00 +0000

Dear Mr. President,

I would like to congratulate you on your success at the NDC congress in Sunyani, BA. One statement that I picked up from your speech was, “the essential and primary responsibility of Government is to work to improve the WELFARE of the people." Also at the UN recently, you told the World body that your Government is shifting attention from National Security to Personal Security. Both statements were well said.

MR President, I think that the areas of the country where the FULANIS are destroying the livelihood of people, RAPING their wives, destroying water bodies people depend on for drinking water, scaring people from going to their farms, KILLING and burning people’s properties are part of Ghana. I don't have to tell you that the victims are Ghanaians and law abiding foreigners that need to be protected under the laws of Ghana.

Last year, a large group of youth from Agogo in the Ashanti Akim North District went on a peaceful demonstration against the Paramount Chief of the town, Nana Akuoko Sarpong, who had taken bribes from the Fulanis and allowing them to occupy their lands, raping their wives and preventing them from going to their farms. In the event about 12 youth were shot by police.

Mr. President, I did not see the Government under your leadership taking a swift action on this. This can never happen in the United States of America (USA) without the Government taking a serious action on it. They value the life of each their citizens. These youth were helpless under the law with the police making their own story. All calls for investigations fell on death ears. The youth had to find financial help from sympathizers to pay their hospital bills.

Mr. President, I think the IGP should have been called to answer questions about police training on handling demonstrations. Nobody knows what happened to the policemen involved with the shooting.

Mr. President, there is one arm of Government called the Attorney General Department that can prosecute the corrupt chiefs that live in the tents of bribery and corruption and nobody has control over. These types of chiefs have brought shame to the chieftaincy institution in Ghana. The prosecution of these chiefs, on behalf of the public, will send a warning to other chiefs in the Country that the law of the land will catch up with them if they continue to live in the tents of bribery and corruption.

Mr. President, it is only in Ghana that foreigners are treated better than the Nationals. Let Ghanaian travelers tell you what they go through if they don't abide by the laws of that Country. I don't have to tell you that the Fulanis are not Ghanaians and the Ecowas protocol does not give the Fulanis the right to commit crimes. And for them to live in Ghana lawlessly because they know some BIG PEOPLE is wrong and turns my stomach. They roam about carrying heavy weapons with impunity. Where is you Interior Ministry on this issue?

Mr. President, the Fulani issue must be treated as a National Issue and dealt with once and for all. I read that the Fulanis burnt down a Tractor belonging to an Alhaji in the Northern Region of Ghana for talking against the destruction of his farm by the Fulanis. A passenger from a Taxi cab was killed by a cow on the instructions of the Fulanis in the Begoro area in the Eastern Region. At least 8 people have been killed and several injured by the Fulanis in the Kwahu Afram Plains in the Eastern Region. Reports of arm robberies linked to the Fulanis in the Volta Region and atrocities in the Brong Ahafo Region.

Mr. President, who should take care of this Fulani problem? The people of Ghana need answers from you. You cannot look the other way when the people are looking up to you to act the same you acted when you were accused of setting aside $90 million for your nomination process.

Mr. President, under your leadership, a committee was set up to investigate the Agogo incident last year. To date a white paper has not been issued from you office on the report. When is this going to be done so the Security Agents can do what they have to do to resolve this Fulani issue?

Mr. President, I see Alhaji Gruzah as the Commander in Chief when he declared War on the people of Agogo on October 4th 2011 and nothing was said to him. He said he will die with his cattle in Agogo instead of moving them from Agogo. How can one person take the lives of a community into his own hands and nothing is done to him. Is he above the law because he is a "BIG MAM"? Leadership is needed here.

Mr. President, if Ghana is working to achieve the middle class status, then there is a lot of work to be done in all sectors of the Economy including Agriculture. Free grazing of cattle destroying farms should be a thing of the past. I expect you to instruct the Ministry of Agriculture to inform the owners of the cattle that free grazing is against the laid down regulations of Ghana as stated by the National Security Chief of Ghana recently.

Mr. President, I don't need to tell you that there is no welfare system in Ghana to assist the poor. Farming is one way of people helping themselves and supporting the Economy. Ghanaian Farmers work hard to survive in Ghana and they cannot be left helpless by their Government because some BIG PEOPLE in the country have decided to do what they want. Who should be responsible for the financial loss to the farmers in Agogo, the Alhaji in the North, the Kwahu Afram plains and people from other parts of the Country?

Mr. President, RAPE is a serious crime no matter which part of the world it happens. These Fulanis rape women and walk free in Ghana under your watch. What kind of Criminal Code do we have in Ghana? Please stand up against abuses, oppression and denial of our basic fundamental rights as citizens of Ghana. Currently a hard working farmer with 11 (eleven) children has been shot and killed in Agogo a few days after he has had it with the Fulanis when their cattle destroyed a part of his farm. How sad can this be?

Mr. President Ghanaians need action from you on this Fulani issue.

God bless Ghanamman.

Emmanuel Kofi Adu-Boahen B.Pharm (hons.)

Registered Pharmacist.

New York.

kofiboahen18@yahoo.com

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Military contigent in Agogo

Tue, 01 Nov 2011 23:40:00 +0000

This is to inform you that the Government has sent military contingent of about 300 soldiers to Agogo today to start evicting the Fulanis and the herdsmen. We need to monitor the operation very closely until the last Fulani is driven out of Agogo. I'm somewhat suspicious that they might relocate Alhaji Grunsah and his men somewhere on Agogo land, perhaps, farther away from their current location.

We need to keep our finger cross for at least someone has finally heard our noise. We will continue to pursue our course until the last Fulani is gone.

Meanwhile the ban on funeral in Agogo is still in effect until further notice.

God Bless Agogoma

Agogo residents boycott all funerals

Fri, 30 Sep 2011 04:05:00 +0000

, demand expulsion of Fulanis

The Concerned Citizens of Agogo have stated that they are boycotting all funeral gatherings in the community until their traditional leaders ensure that the Fulanis are driven out of the community.

According to them, their Chief looks unconcerned while residents are killed by the Fulanis and harassed on daily basis.

They have therefore vowed at a meeting urging all concerned members of the town to boycott funeral gatherings until their chief secures permission from the courts to expel the Fulanis.

Kingsley Obeng, spokesperson for the Concerned Citizens of Agogo speaking to Citi News, stated that someone has to take an action against the criminal activities of the Fulanis.

According to him, the decision taken by the Concerned Citizens of Agogo will make the Chief and elders of the town take a swift decision and drive away all Fulanis.

“The Fulanis are killing us, they have already killed about 12 people in Agogo but the Nana and his elders have kept quiet over this but we are not going to sit down for them to kill us again.

"So we are saying that till the Chief get a court injunction order, we the Concerned Citizens will boycott all funeral gathering in Agogo.

“The Chiefs are the custodians of the land and they hold funeral gatherings. Their function is to perform funeral gatherings, they don’t give anything to the people so we see that they are more interested in funeral activities than the people’s welfare. We say that we shall boycott all funeral activities until a court injunction is obtained”.

Tradegy struck again in Agogo

Sat, 10 Sep 2011 00:30:00 +0000

Tradegy struck again in Agogo. As you may have already learnt on Thursday August 18th one of our citizens, Mr. Tawia, a retiree from the Agogo Hospital Dispensary Department, was shot dead by armed Fulani men near Bebome. The sad event ocurred after the Fulani's had mounted a road block, apparently, robbing the poor farmers returning to their homes after a hard day's work on their farms. Mr. Tawia, was riding on a motor bike with the wife behind her. As they approached the robbery scene, they were stopped by the Fulani and saw other victims who had been ordered to lay down on the ground near by. Mr. Tawia and the others tried to escape when they noticed that the robbers attention was drawn to some other farmers who were approaching. The Fulani's upon realizing the intent of Mr. Tawia and others turned and shot at him a few rounds causing his death. No arrests have been made since then even though the incident ocurred in the vicinity of where the military is stationed.

Another incident happened only yesterday 9/6/11 a citizen believed to be a member of the Saviour Church of Ghana- Agogo (Gydim). This person was working on his farm when he noticed a Fulani entered his farm behind him and fully armed with a gun. Before he could ask him anything, the Fulani shot and hit his leg and the bullet pierced through the leg. Then he tried firing back and realized that he didn't have enough amunition and so he reloaded immediately and shot this person again. This time around, the individual tried to duck the bullet but hit his arm and then he dropped to the ground. The Fulani thought he was dead and therefore left the farm. Fortunately, he survived the bullets and quickly used his cell phone to call for help. As I speak, he is recovering from the wounds.

My brothers and sisters, if we are not careful things can quickly get ugly and out of hands. We've worked very hard to prevent the escalation of the conflict but our people can't wait any longer and allow the herdsmen to kill us and intimidate us without any reaction. Series of meetings have been held since these incidents discussing a whole range of options. Some media houses were invited and interviewed victims and witnesses which broadcasts all over the country

Right after the next day Military operation is currently underway in the Fulani "infested" areas of Agogo farm land to cause arrest and removal of the Fulanis and their cattle. The operation began during the early hours of today and has been ongoing. The Divisional Police Commander, having been apparently bribed by the Fulani, leaked the operation to the herdsmen before the military arrived. At that time, most of them have fled the area. Nonetheless, this is a very positive step towards this struggle for Agogo.

Other plans are also being pursued and I'll update you all at the appropriate time. Even though the military intervention is very much welcomed, we still have to stay put until total liberation of our land is achieved. Let us all keep our fingures crossed and pray that the operation becomes successful so that we can all smile with a sigh of relief.

Headless Body Of Fulani Herdsman Found

Wed, 08 Jun 2011 16:39:00 +0000

For the second time in six months, a Fulani herdsman in the Agogo portion of the Afram Plains

has allegedly been beheaded.

The deceased, identified as Mohammed Bello, 24, is believed to have been decapitated while

grazing his cattle at Kowiriso.

The Agogo District Police Commander, DSP Nana Yawson, told the Daily Graphic yesterday

that the police had no clues as to who might be responsible for the heinous crime.

The police are also yet to trace the whereabouts of the severed head.

DSP Yawson, however, indicated that the police were making frantic efforts to get to the

bottom of the matter.

The body has been deposited at the Agogo Hospital for autopsy.

For some time now the people of Agogo have been at loggerheads with Fulani herdsmen over

the destruction of farms by the cattle of the Fulanis.

Not long ago, the traditional authorities issued an ultimatum to the herdsmen to leave the

area but they have not obeyed the order.

The District Police Commander stated, however, that it was too early to link the latest incident

to the raging conflict between the people of the area and the Fulani herdsmen.

According to him, the incident happened last Saturday, June 4, 2011, and when the news got

to him, he sent men to the scene where Bello’s headless body was found.

He quoted witnesses as saying that they had seen the herd of cattle running back and later

realised that the herdsman had been killed by unidentified persons.

DSP Yawson said two Fulani men were tending their cattle at the time of the crime.

The other person, Imoro Umlo, however, managed to escape the attack and he has been

invited by the Agogo Police to help in police investigations.

Source: Kwame Asare Boadu - Daily Graphic

Story from Modern Ghana News:

http://www.modernghana.com/news/332857/1/headless-body-of-fulani-herdsman-found.html

Published: Tuesday, June 07, 2011

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