Okyenhene Task Force Accused Of Destroying Vast Farms Land In Sakyikrom Noka -Amidst Foot Shortages And Tension
Members of Okyeman Environmental Task Force, established by Okyenhene, Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin have been accused by the elders of Noka, a faming community within the Sakyikrom under the Akwamu Traditional Area in the Nsawam Adoagyiri Municipality of the Eastern Region for unlawfully destroying of thousands of cash crops on the acres of the land which belongs to the people of Sakyikrom.
Freeman Koryekpor Awlesu Greater Members of Okyeman Environmental Task Force, established by Okyenhene, Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin have been accused by the elders of Noka, a faming community within the Sakyikrom under the Akwamu Traditional Area in the Nsawam Adoagyiri Municipality of the Eastern Region for unlawfully destroying of thousands of cash crops on the acres of the land which belongs to the people of Sakyikrom.
The visibly angered elders pointed out that the various cash crops destroyed on the land by the task force are palm oil tress cassava, maize plantations, banana trees cocoa, coffee, tomatoes and timber among others.
"The Noka Sakyikrom lands belong to our ascestors but the Okyeman Environmental Task Force with the tacit support of the armed to teeth police officers and soldiers have entered into the same land and claimed ownership of it," the elders cried out.
The members of task force, according to them destroyed the crops on their farm land and leased the said land to the KK Quarry Limited and Osnah Contraction Limited among others to win the quarry businesses.
They hinted that the unlawful acts of the members Task Force with the tacit support of soldiers and police officers from the Kyebi Police Divisional Command is currently creating serious tension in the town.
"So we are saying that if care was not taken, the situation may lead to a breach of peace in the area , as claims over Noka Sakyikrom lands, which are under the Akwamu Traditional Area can lead to a serious rift between the Akyems and Akwamus," the elders noted.
Residents of this community who are predominantly farmers, could not hide bur shear their frustration at the sheer greed and wickedness being meted out to them by a gang of people led by one Akwansrahene, whom, according to information, is operating using the name of the Okyenhene.
Living conditions of residents, this paper can say, is becoming unbearable as their sources of livelihoods which is their farms have been destroyed.
A visit to the community has revealed degraded and destroyed farmlands which before now serve as the hub for the cultivation of crops such as cocoa, cassava, coffee, tomatoes, and timber.
Addressing a crowded press conference in Nova Sakyikrom on Wednesday July 13, 2022, amidst chatting of war songs by the citizens of Noka, they called on Paramount Chief of Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Area, Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin to call his Okyeman Environmental Task Force to order.
The Paramount Queen-mother of Pom community who doubles as the Krontihemaa of the Akwamu Traditional Area, Nana Baffuor Oponwaa II, noted that they don't want to fight the Akyems and that they want peace in the area.
She added that since time immemorial, the town of Nova Sakyikrom has been under the Akwamu Traditional Area with the Chief of Sakyikrom Noka being a Divisional Stool i.e Krontihene II to the Paramount Chief of Akwamu Traditional Area.
She disclosed that historical records from the National House of Chiefs (NHCs) and relevant Chieftaincy laws exist which corroborate these facts.
Nana Baffour Oponwaa II,whose 5-acre land was graded by the said group of people, noted that the group destroyed her farms covering five acres from the ten-acre land she has.
This, development she indicated, is uncalled for since the land in question does not belong to the people of Akyem.
“My land is not for Okyemhene. My land is not for the people of Okyemen. This is my land and for that matter whoever is sending these people onto my land should desist from such act,” she retorted.
Flanked by the Principal Head of Oyoko family of Sakyikrom, Abusuapanyin Kofi Owusu and Apagyahene of Sakyikrom, Oheneba Nana Asante Okorie I, Nana Baffuor Oponwaa II explained that, traditionally, Sakyikrom is the Krontihene No II to the Akwamu Traditional Area hence holds allegiance to the Akwamuhene and not the Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Council.
In view of this, she stressed that “all lands in Sakyikrom Noka community are within the traditional jurisdiction of the Akwamu Traditional Council and not the Akyem Traditional Council.”
Nana Baffour Oponwaa II averred that none of their forefathers or traditional leaders ever attended traditional council meetings at the Okyeman palace, let alone going to pay homage or allegiance there.
On his part, Apagyahene of Sekyikrom Oheneba Nana Asante Okorie I, also added his voice and indicated that since the invasion of the said group in the community, residents have been living in fear.
Oheneba Nana Asante Okorie I stated that the youth in the town should allow any stranger like
He stated that the group (Okyeman taskforce) is creating tension and chaos in the community and if care is not taken, it may lead to a breach of the peace in the area.
He stressed the fact that Sekyikrom since time immemorial has been under the Akwamus with the chief of Sakyikrom being a Divisional Stool (Krontihene II) to the paramount Chief of Akwamu Traditional Area.
“There are settled judicial decisions, records from the National House of Chiefs and relevant chieftaincy laws to corroborate this fact,” he stated.
He appealed to the security agencies, the Interior and defence Ministries to intervene and ensure peace.
“We want peace. Hence, we are challenging the Akyems to produce details of whoever sold the lands to them,” he said.
