The Clan Head of Maabang in Atwima Nwabiagya North Municipality, Nana Osei Antwi has updated that the Barekese Police have arrested the man responsible for giving out the stretch of land surrounding the Barekese Dam for farming.

He revealed that the case would be taken to court for offenders to be prosecuted - a lesson others who flout on the rules and regulations of the country would learn from.

Soireenews reported that Concerned Citizens of Maabang have given government up to the end of September to pay compensation packages agreed in the acquisition of their land for forest reserve around the Barekese Dam some years ago.

Unknown persons were identified to have started farming on the land and using the drinking water for irrigational purposes which in turn pollutes the water body. The Abusuapanin told SoireeNews that the individual responsible for defying orders surrounding the dam has been arrested and is been prepared for trial, an action he believes would help eradicate insubordination in the Region.

“I needed evidence when the case was first reported to me so I informed my men to get me photographs of the reported activities on the land,” Nana Osei Antwi said.

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“After acquiring the shots, I went to the land to see for myself what was going on. I met two men on the land weeding.  I quickly invited the police and they arrested them for investigations. The men narrated that they were hired to work on the land by a man I know who lives at Maabang.

“I asked my family members to monitor his movement until the police arrest him. The Barekese Police later grabbed him and the case is now in the hands of the Police.

He explained that according to the culprit, a permit was given unto them by a former District Chief Executive some years ago to start farming on the property that now accommodates a whole community and their animals - sheep, and cows becoming a threat to the safety of the dam. He sketched that the Church of Pentecost has been established on the property, with the intention of converting the place into a town by occupants.

“When Barekese was under the Nkawie District, Nana Asare Bediako was the then DCE so when farming started on the unrestricted land, it created a conflict and the case was channeled to the then DCE. He gave them the authority to work on the government property and further plant trees but resisted them from making further extensions. So they were confident to keep on working. They even showed us cards that were given us permits during the time of the NDC.”

The Maabang Clan Head entreated chiefs, surrounding towns, and the Local Government to wake up and preserve the only dam which supplies 80 percent of drinking water in the Ashanti Region before deficiency arises.

“We are appealing to the chiefs and government to take drastic actions because they have polluted the water through the use of pumping machines to irrigate their crops. Owabi is not as effective as it used to, leaving a high dependency on the Barekese Dam therefore if this not taken care of, things will get out of hand.

“This is beyond Maabang so I expect Offinso and Nkwanta Kese to support our fight for the wellbeing of the Dam and surrounding lands.”