APEDWAHENE IS TAKING OUR LIVELIHOOD FROM US
About thirty-three (33) acres of active farms at Mankrong in the Ayensuano District of the Eastern Region
Good morning ladies and gentlemen of the press. First of all we will like to thank all of you for responding to our call at such a short notice.
This press statement is by the chiefs, cocoalife farmers and people of Mankrong. Mankrong is a town in Ayensuano District of the Eastern Region of Ghana.
The inhabitants are predominantly farmers. Our ancestors have been living and farming on this land for the past 150 years.
Ladies and gentlemen of the media, this press statement is to bring the people of Ghana and the whole up-to-speed about some unfortunate happenings in our town.
Mankrong has been very peaceful until about two weeks ago when, out of the blue, earth moving machines moved into our town and started excavation works on certain parcels of land in the town.
When we enquired from the well-armed workers brought by Okyehene Mponuahene to do the excavation works we were informed, to our uttermost shock, that the Apedwahene through Okyehene Mponuahene, has taken possession of the land.
We could have resisted with equal force of arms but we decided to use due process rather.
Ladies and gentlemen of the media, as we speak now five acres of cocoa farms, four acres of orange farms, six acres of agro forest, ten acres of oil palm plantation, two acres of plantain farms, five acres of maize farms, one acre of cocoyam farm, and some uncompleted buildings destroyed.
Where do the Apedwahene and Okyehene Mponuahene expect these people whose livelihoods have been destroyed to get their daily bread from?
We demand the following:
- That the Apedwahene and the Okyehene Mponuahene, with immediate effect, recall all their earthmoving machines from our land.
- That the Apedwahene pays for all properties destroyed by his illegal actions on our land.
- That the Apedwahene give an assurance to the chiefs and people of Mankrong that their lands, henceforth, will not be attacked in this capricious manner.
We will like to send a strong warning to the Apedwahene and the Okyehene Mponuahene that if we still see these earthmoving machines on our land after three days, counting from today, we will advice ourselves. The chiefs and people of Mankrong are peace loving people but are not cowards.