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The head of the Fulani Community in Ghana, Sheikh Osman Barry has warned against the ongoing ejection of Fulani herdsmen across the country which he described as unfair and very harmful.

“It is harmful and hurtful because this is a community issue and also we are dealing with a group of people and there is an economic factor for this country,” he said.

He noted that there has been no correspondence between the government and him over the ejection exercise.

A joint Police-Military team is undertaking an ejection exercise code named “operation cow-leg” to force out all Fulani herdsmen from the Volta, Eastern, Ashanti and Northern Regions.

The exercise is aimed at restoring peace and security in communities within which the Fulani herdsmen had settled.

Indigenes always complained of acts of violence being allegedly perpetrated by some Fulani Herdsmen.

There were also reports of destroyed farm crops due to the grazing of their cattle which sometimes led to clashes.

Governments have over the years unsuccessfully made efforts to force the Fulani’s out of the country.

However, the Volta Regional Minister, Helen Ntosoo has told Citi News, government is determined to successfully complete this ejection exercise.

Speaking on Eyewitness News, Sheikh Barry said it is necessary for government to tackle this issue objectively in order to “bring out some concrete and objective solutions to the problem.”

He argued government’s actions are unfair because the Fulani’s have contributed to the economic growth of Ghana, adding that there is also the existence of some protocols and some conventions “which are binding on Ghana government and other governments as well about the movement of persons and goods across borders.”

“Therefore, if there is any government decision at all, I expect that it should be taken with certain considerations in mind.”

According to him, the issue of Fulani herdsmen “has been on and on and on but I haven’t seen the authorities come out with concrete proposal on how this problem should be dealt with from the grassroot.”

“This is not the first time an African country is experiencing this, but it will be better for government to come out with certain proposals, set up a committee which will not just do feasibility studies on the presence of the Fulani’s and the problems – no, no, no!”

“The proposals should be linked to the factors connected to the issues on the ground. These people are there and contributing to the development of the nation and we are part of the West African community and we are bounded by certain agreements, protocols and conventions…”

Sheikh Barry stressed that “if a certain decision has been taken arbitrarily without any information going across to the other side, I don’t think it’s fair and I think it will prejudice the interest of the nation as well.”

“There is no doubt that we have to live together and if we have to live together, then we must find a solution to the problem that is challenging our survival.”