The Ashanti Regional Minister, John Alexander Akon, has revealed that so far over 4,000 cattle belonging to nomadic Fulani herdsmen, have been moved from Agogo.
He said the cattle were moved in the last couple of months following government’s effort to resolve the impasse between residents of Agogo and Fulani herdsmen.
“There has been considerable improvement; anybody who has followed will know that there has been movement of cattle, it’s getting to the range of 4,000. Last month there was about 1,000 going who are moving gradually and there is an improvement in the situation. I wouldn’t say we have succeeded in all because we are dealing with animals but a lot has been done,” the Minister said in an interview.
Residents in Agogo have over the years accused the Fulani herdsmen of destroying their farms and abusing them physically.
They have thus unleashed a series of pressure on government to have the herdsmen and their cattle moved from the area.
A joint security personnel made up of military and Police were dispatched to the area few months ago to oversee the situation.
The residents led by the queen mother and Member of Parliament (MP) for the area, Kojo Baah Agyeman on Tuesday demonstrated to ensure that government fast-tracks the eviction process.
Meanwhile, the Ashanti Regional Minister says he has invited the youth and other stakeholders of Agogo for a meeting to discuss and firm up decisions on the nomadic Fulani herdsmen.
Mr. Akon in an interview said he will use the meeting to explain the eviction processes to leaders of the town.
“What I’ve done is that, I’ve spoken with the Member of Parliament, Kojo Baah Agyeman to get the leadership of the Agogo youth to come around so that we can all operate at the same level in order that we can understand ourselves so that the next move will be appreciated. But we have still maintained a standing military and police presence to patrol the area.”
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