Hon. Collins Offinam Takyi (MCE) as part of his core responsibilities had a community engagement with the community members of Ankaase under the Ankaase/Adaa Zonal Council to ostensibly discussed the petitions he had received from the Ankaase Community and Gyeasehene of Derma Tradition Area (Nana Twumasi Asamoah) concerning the invasion of the community by herdsmen and their cattle.
The Hon. MCE was accompanied by the Techimantia Police Commander, ASP. Isaac Inkoom, NIB Officer, Mr. Habib Musah, Acting Director of Agriculture, Mr. Paul Addai, Head of Environmental Health Unit, Mr. James Oware, Assistant Director I, Mr. Asare Abdul Mumin, Head of MIS, Mr. Raphael Owusu Ansah, and others. The entourage was welcomed by the community members who were led by Nana Kwaku Twumasi (Caretaker of Ankaase), Hon. Assembly members, unit committee members and opinion leaders.
The engagement was in response to concerns raised by the community in relation to the presence of Fulani herdsmen in the community. The farmers of the community had complained about the destruction of their crops by the cattle. Again, the community alleged that the presence of the herdsmen and their cattle posed security threat to the community since most of the women and children were terrified with the presence of the huge number of cattle in the community.
It became apparent at the meeting the meeting that one Charles Osei Kofi a native of Ankaase who had relocated to Abofour gave the herdsmen. Again, it was discovered that some members of the Community including the Assembly Members, the forestry guard and few others after they had decided with the community to get the herdsmen out of the Community, also secretly signed an agreement with the herdsmen to keep the cattle there until 15th April, 2024. This revelation brought shockwaves to almost all the stakeholders presence at the meeting who could not comprehend the motive behind the few people who had signed that agreement with the herdsmen. It became obvious at the meeting that the purported agreement was a nullity since those who signed on behalf of the Community did not have the blessing of the people.
After a successful deliberations, it was resolved that in view of the fact that the Community was not ready to live with the herdsmen, the only way out was for the herdsmen to return the cattle from where they were brought from to avoid security breach.
ASP, Inkoom (Techimantia District Police Commander) used the platform to advise all the fresh Hon. Assembly Members to desist from taking the law into their own hands by mediating criminal cases and rather report all such cases to the Police for necessary action.
Mr. Paul Addai (Ag. Director of Agriculture) on the other hand also used the opportunity to sensitize the Community on the phase two of the Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ) programme and encouraged all farmers to register since the initiative was beneficial to farmers.
In his closing remark, the Hon. MCE advised the Hon. Assembly members to ensure they exhibit commitment towards their work and love for community in everything they do. He continued that, they should seek clarification on issues bothering them from former Assembly Members and assured them that the Assembly had opened its arms to receive and address their concerns.
The community members, led by Mr. P.K. Mensah Expressed their appreciation to the Hon. MCE and his entourage for making time out of their busy schedules to engagement the Community. They were also happy with the decision that was taken for the concerns raised. They also made a request for one or two boreholes to be provided for the left side of the community on your way from Derma to Asuoso. The engagement had in attendance, over 32 stakeholders.
