NEWS that Fulani herdsmen in Agogo in the Asante Akyem District of the Ashanti Region are being compelled to desert the town is troubling, to say the least. The situation, per our front-page lead story titled: “Fulanis Flee Agogo…As opinion leaders declare war on them,” in yesterday’s edition, follows a shoot-and-kill directive by some opinion leaders in the town of any Fulani.
AND already bearing the brunt of this so-called directive are some 50 cattle owned by the herdsmen. Our story goes on to reveal that two communities where this shoot and kill directive was given and has been carried out are Kataban and Onyinaso—all in the Asante Akyem District. Very sad!
SPEAKING to some indigenes of Agogo as captured in our story we got the impression that the residents were resorting to this action as a form of revenge on atrocities committed by some of these herdsmen. But the question that readily comes in mind anytime such lawlessness is perpetuated is: don’t we live in a country governed by laws?
IT is sickening when some of these crimes are committed in the full glare of our law enforcers with perpetrators most often walking free. What that means is that it encourages more of such indiscipline to go on in our society which does not send a positive signal to prospective investors, be it local or foreign. The fact is that no investor would like to put their monies in risky areas and that includes areas where impunities prevail and the rule of law is deemed secondary.
THE Fulani herdsmen menace in Agogo in particular has become one very thorny issue in the community, recurring almost every year. We know that in the past, some attempts have been made by successive governments to find lasting solutions to the problem. However, it does not seem like we are addressing the issue adequately enough.
THE curious twist to this Fulani herdsmen issue is the fact that many of them are well integrated into the communities with Ghanaian wives and are raising their families in these same communities. Admittedly, there would be a few among them fomenting troubles every now and then. But that notwithstanding, the directive to shoot and kill is not the way to go. That is taking the law into one’s hand when we have law enforcers well represented in Agogo and for that matter, in the Asante Akyem District.
IT is against this backdrop that Today urges the police commander in the Asante Akyem District to deploy some officers there to protect lives and property. As residents we must know that there are appropriate and right quarters to seek redress when offended. It is wrong for us to take the laws into our own hands and act upon it.
WE also call on the Akufo-Addo administration to look into this whole herdsmen issue and address it permanently. What we need is peace and stability in our communities so the people can go about their duties without fear or intimidation.
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