Hon. Wisdom Seneadza, DCE, Afadzato South District
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he newly appointed Chief Executive of Afadzato South District in the Volta Region, Hon. Wisdom Seneadza has taken a bold step to resolve a dispute between the farming community within the district and cattle herdsmen.
Speaking to Awake News’ Korsi Senyo, he disclosed that following his assumption of office on the May 17, 2017, he called for an emergency District Security Council (DISEC) meeting on the June 6, 2017 for a [ads1]comprehensive briefing on the ongoing dispute between the castle herdsman and people of the district which led to a demonstration by youth at Have-Kpeve in May this year.
According to the Lawyer Seneadza, sometime in 2013, the activity of cattle herdsmen became a headache for the subsistence farmers in Woadze, Goviefe and Have areas within the Afadzato South District. Cattle grazing came into direct conflict with the farming activity of the indigenes, as both had to compete with the same space.
Matters came to a head when all stakeholders had to meet with the Volta Regional Minister, Dr. Archibald Letsa on Thursday the 9th of March, 2017 to resolve the instant challenge which is gradually degenerating into full blown conflict.
Member of the DCE Stakeholder Meeting
He said, at the said meeting, representatives from the District Assembly, Police, Bureau of National Investigation, Agric; Traditional Rulers from the Goviefe, Woadze and Have Traditional Areas; and the Fulani communities had reached the following decisions after an exhaustive deliberation:
- that the Chiefs of Goviefe, Woadze and Have should send a letter to the Chief of Vakpo to inform cattle owners in the Vakpo area to ensure that their cattle do not trespass into the land at Afadzato South District for grazing purposes.
- that the Chiefs of Goviefe, Woadze and Have should meet with their Youths and agree on the terms on which Chiefs who own cattle should graze them without destroying farm crops and inform the Volta Regional Co-ordinating Council accordingly.
- that the 15th April, 2017 deadline given to the Fulani Herdsmen and other cattle owners in the three (3) Traditional Areas to leave the area should be extended to 30th April, 2017.
However, it became apparent from the road map agreed by all parties that the Fulani herdsmen and cattle owners had failed to remove their cattle within the time frame agreed.
This according to the DCE angered the youth from the the affected communities to embark on a lawful demonstration along the main Have-Kpeve road to draw attention to the situation sometime in May, 2017.
To review and implement the road-map initiated by the Regional Ministers, the DCE held a stakeholder meeting on June 22, 2017 and after nearly eight (8) hours of “deliberation and negotiation, the following terms were agreed but parties were asked to communicate decision arrived at with their constituents before signing up”
The aforementioned parties herein have on this 22nd day of June, 2017 agreed to the resolution of the present impasse on the following terms:
- That cattle owners and the Fulani Herdsmen relocate their cattle from Goviefe, Woadze and Have area to enable the indigenes continue with their primary occupation – farming without any interference from any quarter including grazing of cattle.
- That the removal of (1) must be effected on or before the 30th day of September, 2017.
- That Togbe Apende who also holds cattle within the Woadze area be given 6 months to remove his cattle – (on or before the 31st day of December, 2017).
- That Togbe Apende ensures all cattle owners to remove their cattle within the specified period within the Woadze area.
- That any gross violation of this agreement/roadmap shall attract very grave sanction to be determined by the DISEC.
- That cattle owners and Fulani herdsmen must furnish the Chiefs of Goviefe, Woadze and Have a monthly progress report without fail.
Source: Awake News | Efo Korsi Senyo | Ve Golokuatsi
