Afigya-Sekyere District have said they would not abandon farming in
the Penteng forest reserve unless the government paid promptly
compensation due them after their large hectares of farm lands had
been taken from them.
The compensation, they claimed, formed part of an agreement they had
with government when they were directed to abandon farming activities
some 30 years ago to enhance the sustainability of the forest reserve
which falls within the Barekese Dam catchments area.The residents said
this at a meeting with officials of the Ghana Water Company Limited
(GWCL) at Penteng near Agona on Thursday.The meeting was organised by
the GWCL to sensitise the residents to desist from farming in the
forest reserve and formed part of programmes by the GWCL to
commemorate the World Water Day.
Nana Kofi Atta, Krontihene of Penteng, took a swipe at the Ministry of
Finance and Economic Planning, Land Valuation Board, Lands Commission
and GWCL for their blatant refusal to facilitate the payment of the
compensation.This, he said, was quite unfortunate and a breach of
trust on the part of government.
"In the event of the compensation not being paid, residents would
have no other option than to go back to their lands in the forest
reserve and farm so as to make ends meet".
Nana Atta accused government of being evasive about the payment
of the compensation, saying, "On so many occasions we have demanded
our money but to no avail even though we had long submitted all
relevant documents and claims to the appropriate quarters".
He said other communities within the dam's catchments area whose
farmlands were taken from them had long been duly compensated, "Yet
that of Penteng still remains in a mystery".
Mr Robert Obeng Boateng, Ashanti Regional Chief Manager of the
GWCL, said the delay was as a result of inaccuracies in the
documentations and that the Land Valuation Board is trying to resolve
it.He appealed to the residents to exercise restraint whiles measures
were stepped up to have their compensation paid to them.
"You should endeavour to henceforth put a stop to all farming
activities in the forest for the sustainability of the forest reserve
and maintenance of the Barekese Dam", he said.
Mr Boateng, who conducted newsmen round some of the encroached
areas of the forest reserve, called for drastic measures to be taken
to deter recalcitrant residents from carrying out farming activities
in the reserve.
23 March 07
