A joint police-military team on Saturday began a special exercise code-named “Operation Cow Leg” to flush out nomadic Fulanis and their animals out of the Volta Region.
This came a week after the Volta Regional Minister, Madam Helen Ntoso had warned that Fulani herdsmen from other parts of the country would not be offered sanctuary in the region.
Madam Ntoso told The Ghanaian Times at the Ho Residency at the weekend, that the two-week exercise would be carried out specifically in the Adaklu, Agotime-Kpetoe, Central and North Tongu, as well as Akatsi North and South Districts.
“It will also be extended to the Krachi West, Krachi East, Krachi Nchumuru, Nkwanta North and Nkwanta South Districts,” she added.
Madam Ntoso, who is the chairperson of the Regional Security Council (REGSEC), said the exercise was necessitated by the current exodus of Fulanis from other parts of the country and the West African sub-region to the Volta Region.
She said some of the Fulanis, who had settled legally in the region for many years, would not be affected by the exercise.
The Regional Minister recalled the repatriation of 48 Fulani nomads from the region last February 1, and said “we have just been informed by the Ghana immigration Service that some of them have come back.”
Madam Ntoso expressed worry at the sudden presence of herd of cattle belonging Fulanis in some urban centres in the region, causing menace to traffic and people.
Meanwhile, a spokesman of the team, has told The Ghanaian Times, “we have enough men for the exercise”.
Although he declined to disclose the numerical strength of the team, he said that the squad was divided into three groups and were well equipped to execute the task within a fortnight.
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