The Konogo Divisional Commander of the Ghana Police Service, Supt. George Ohene-Boadi Bossman says officers were compelled to shoot at cattle in Agogo after herdsmen commanded them to charge on police.
He said the officers had gone to the Agogo township to sack cattle who had been destroying farmlands but was forced to shoot and kill the cattle who suddenly charged on them.
Speaking on the Midday News after nomadic herdsmen in Agogo accused the District Chief Executive (DCE) and police of deliberately killing about 200 of their animals, he said they acted in self-defense.
One of the affected herdsmen, Alhaji Grusah said “they are killing the cows and sharing to the people.”
But Supt Bossman said “Anytime we go to the field to drive them away, they speak to the cattle and they charge on us. So if they are charging at us, should we stand for the cattle to kill us,” Supt. Bossman said.
He however said 200 was an exaggeration, and that the number was lesser although he could not give the right figure.
Supt. Bossman said the herdsmen have refused to stop their cattle from grazing on people’s farms.
They have, with their cattle, destroyed farmlands and taken away from the Agogo indigenes their only source of livelihood, he said.
He added that the police will not allow that to continue.
“The indigenes of Agogo deserve to be given the chance to embark on their farming activities, that is the only way they can cater for themselves and their families.
“These people go to banks to take loans to develop their farms and the cattle should not be allowed to destroy them,” he said.
The DCE Francis Oti Boateng also denied accusations that he ordered the police to embark on a shooting spree.
He, however, admitted that the cattle were shot at only because the herdsmen refused to keep them off people’s farms.
“The cattle have committed a lot of atrocities on my people. 40 people have died as a result and they are still destroying people’s farms.”
He said after five months of grace period for the herdsmen to confine the cattle and reduce destruction, the only option left is to drive them out of the town.
“If any cattle has been killed, it is as a result of self defense,” the DCE added.
