Farmers protest against Timber Company for destroying their farms

Tepa (Ash), June 20, GNA- Cocoa and food crop farmers at Boagyaa Number One and Onyinase in the Ahafo-Ano North district last Tuesday staged a demonstration to protest against the alleged destruction of their farms by Naja David Veneer and Plywood Limited, a Kumasi-based timber firm.
     But for the timely intervention by Nana Agyemang Prempeh, District Chief Executive and Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Opare Ofosuhene, the District Police Commander, the farmers, wearing red bands, could have clashed with the workers of the company who went to the area to cart some timber logs.
     Briefing newsmen, Mr Sampson Sarfo Sowah, assemblyman for the area, said for sometime now the company claiming to have a timber concession in the area has been destroying their farms with impunity without paying any compensation to them.
     He said the farmers who felt their patience had been overstretched, decided not to allow any of the company's vehicles to pass through their farms, but the workers led by Mr Anis Janhary, the Area Manager and Joseph Adjei, the Bush Manager resisted and had a confrontations with them.
     The assemblyman then reported the matter to the District Chief Executive who quickly went to the scene with the police and brought the situation under control.
     In a related development, the police arrested Mr Janhary and Mr Adjei for the part they played for preventing the DCE to leave the village when they blocked the road leading to the villages with their vehicles.
     When contacted, Mr Janhary declined to comment.