Tension is mounting in several communities within the Ayensuano District of the Eastern Region, including Asantekrom, Yaw Boame, Paulkrom, Ningo Panpanso, Agyarkwakrom, Kyekyewere, and Govinakrom, following violent clashes linked to an alleged 4,000-acre land grab by an estate developer.
According to residents, armed landguards believed to have been hired by the developer launched attacks on local youth and farmers, beating and intimidating them to vacate the land.
The incident has left many residents living in fear, with reports of injuries and widespread anxiety among peasant farmers whose livelihoods depend on the disputed land.
Speaking at a press conference, the Chief of Asantekrom, Baffour Asante I, accused the developer of unlawfully encroaching on community lands without any consultation or consent from traditional authorities.
“The landguards came with weapons and threatened to harm anyone who tried to work on the land. This is unacceptable. We are calling on the government to intervene immediately,” he said.
Baffour Asante appealed to the Ayensuano District Security Council to investigate the matter and take urgent steps to prevent further violence.
Community leaders from the affected areas are also urging the government and security agencies to protect residents and ensure justice is served.
They warned that continued harassment and forced evictions would disrupt food production and threaten the stability of the local communities.
“We depend on this land for our survival. Losing it means losing our livelihood,” one farmer lamented, calling for swift government action to restore peace and safeguard their rights.
Source: Kwasi Azor
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