Members of the Fulani Association of Ghana have expressed their discontent with how the violent clashes between local farmers and nomadic herdsmen in the Asante Akyem North and Sekyere Afram Plains districts of the Ashanti Region are being handled by the government.
They said they are being maltreated by the police-military task-force and the larger populace following clashes between the Fulanis and farmers in some communities, particularly in Agogo and its environs in the past weeks.
Addressing the press in Accra on in January 2018, Sheikh Osman Barry, head of the Fulani Community in Ghana, appealed to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to intervene in what he described as unwarranted atrocities being meted out to the nomadic Fulani herdsmen in some parts of the country.
The Association heavily lamented how the innocent herdsmen are the ones often attacked whenever the cattle are reportedly destroying farms, whiles the real owners including politicians and other influential persons in society, are left off the hook.
Sheikh Barry, while condemning the unrest, demanded the shoot-to-kill strategy be stopped and the affected families compensated.
“We equally wish to appeal to His Excellency to ensure that adequate compensations are paid to the innocent victimised Fulani families who have lost their cattle during the said joint operation and other atrocities,” he stressed.
Prof Sheikh Osman Barry also called on the General Secretary of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, to intervene in the plight of the Fulani Community in Ghana, indicating that the hostile way they are being treated is unacceptable.
He urged collaboration in decision-making on issues that concern the Fulani and suggested dialogue towards resolving the issues of nomadic herdsmen in Agogo.
In a video coverage of the Press Conference obtained by The Trent, the Leader of the Fulani Group said he believed the President of Ghana well known for his stand for justice and human rights over the years, has what it takes to use highly respected office to quench the fire and bring peace and stability between the Fulani and the indigenes of Agogo and other parts of Ghana.
Professor Barry also urged the government of Ghana to ensure that compensations are paid to innocent Fulani families who lost their cattle during the joint military –police operations.
According to him, the land attacks and air strikes jointly taken by the police and military from December last year has resulted in the killing of over 1,500 (One Thousand Five cows) estimated to be over $1,500,000 (One Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars).
The group leader also indicated that some assailants suspected to be from the surrounding communities took advantage of the chaotic situation created by the joint action to launch attacks on the Fulani resulting in killing and looting of properties belonging to the herdsmen.
He also bemoaned the situation where on many occasions people suspected to be Fulani extraction were forced to alight from public transports in which they were traveling with and humiliated and dehumanized and sometimes killed for no reason.
Professor Barry also recounted a sad situation in which a number of Fulani who embarked on the Mecca pilgrimage were forced to surrender their genuine traveling documents to the authorities at Ghana’s ports of entries without any justification.
The Fulanis are on many occasions either discriminated against , deprived of or driven away when they approach appropriate state authorities to obtain traveling or important state documents such as voters and national identifications, health insurance, passports amongst others.
He condemned such repeated atrocities and discriminations and pointed out that the Fulani’s who have been living in Ghana’s geographical location for over three hundred and forty years do not deserve such ill treatments from the people.
He disclosed that the Fulani’s have been peace loving and law abiding citizens who have played tremendous roles in the socio-economic advancement of Ghana.
He mentioned that areas such as Cowlane, Tudu, Adabraka, Nima, Mamobi, and Kanda amongst others in the Accra Metropolis were founded by the Fulani’s.
Professor Osman Barry, who is a former employee of the Organisation of African Unity, OAU, now the African Union, AU, admonished the Fulanis nationwide to continue to be peace lovers and law abiding citizens.
The press conference organized by the Suudu Baaba Association of Ghana, brought together the academia, clergy, chiefs, health professionals, security personnel and students with Fulani roots on a single platform.
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