Some cocoa farmers in Kukurantumi in the Eastern Region are calling on Cocobod and the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) to put in measures to prevent traditional leaders from selling their plantations to estate developers.
According to them, the traditional leaders forcibly take away their lands and sell them to these developers without compensating them.
Speaking to the media on behalf of the affected farmers, Opanyin Kojo Owusu Ansah said the actions of the leaders had affected their livelihood making it difficult to cater for their families.
He said if the Cocobod and the ministry failed to address the situation, they would be forced to take the law into their hands.
To air their grievances, the farmers and residents staged a protest at the Palace of the Dwumana clan.
Some affected farmers said they often clashed with these developers on their land. However, they are determined to prevent people from stealing their lands.
At the Dwumana Clan palace, Nana Afoakoma Kyerewaa I appealed to the farmers to exercise restraints since steps would be taken to address the issue and secure their farmlands.
He also said the land sales significantly impede the government’s Planting for Food and Jobs policy’ hence was certain the government would take steps to retrieve their lands.
