A 47-year-old farmer, Razak Yakubu, has been put before Koforidua Circuit Court ‘A’ for allegedly poisoning two cattle in his farm.
The Prosecutor, ASP Rejoice Dogbe told the court that, the complainant is a farmer residing at Akyem Asikam while the accused person is a farmer and driver. She said, on January 9, 2021, two Fulani herdsmen led about 30 cattle to graze in the bush. On reaching the accused person’s farm the animals fed on some orange fruits but after jolting for a kilometer, the two animals fell and died.
The prosecutor said the herdsmen became suspicious because the accused person had tortured one of the cattle before in August 2020.
The herdsmen went back to the farm of the accused person and picked a sample of the orange fruits suspected to have been poisoned.
The case was reported to police and investigators were dispatched to the scene to take inventories. They picked some of the orange fruit samples.
The accused was arrested and cautioned. The orange fruits were sent to Ghana Standards Authority for laboratory test where it was confirmed that it was poisoned with magnesium phosphine.”
The accused person however pleaded not guilty to a charge of cruelty against animals.
He was granted bail of Ghc20, 000 with a surety.
However the Kibi District Police Commander, Superintendent Magnus Reinford Sam took the accused to Kibi and caged him with the excuse that he couldn’t wait for him to fulfill his bail conditions after the proceedings that it will be done on Friday.
Razak Yakubu is among farmers protesting against the destruction of their farms by the cattle.
Background
Farmers in Akyem Adukrom in Abuakwa South Municipality of the Eastern Region are protesting against the destruction of their farms by cattle allegedly belonging to President Akufo Addo.
The farmers say the animals were brought to the community almost three years ago by some unknown persons using Fulani herdsmen.
The over 150 beef cattle and sheep have been grazing on crops such as maize, cassava, plantain, cocoyam, on smallholder farms in the communities under the intimidation of persons purported to be operatives of national security.
About 35 aggrieved farmers argue that the presence of the animals and level of destruction is depriving them of their livelihood.
Some women smallholder farmers including Margaret Awaku, a widow lamented how the cattle destroyed their vegetable and maize farms afflicting hardship on their families.
“I am a widow, I can’t do galamsey. So I farm but the cattle have destroyed my maize farm. Whenever I see the destruction I become embittered. So government should intervene to relocate the cattle from this area. My children are starving” Awaku said.
The cattle destroy cocoa trees while jolting through cocoa farms.
For Razak Yakubu, he has been arrested many times by armed men alleged to be national security operatives and Police for continuously protesting and attacking cattle found on his farm.
“Whenever I protest and Chase the cattle in my farm, armed Police and persons claiming to be national security operatives attack me, just two weeks ago, three armed Police personnel came to my house at dawn to arrest me that order from above that I have poisoned their cattle which I denied. The president should come out if the cattle belong to him because that is what they are claiming.”
The Odikro of Akyem Adukrom Moses Cudjoe Agozo said illegal mining has destroyed lands in the area therefore managing with few arable lands available to farm hence the presence of the cattle will affect the livelihood of the farmers therefore the cattle must be relocated from the area.
Source: Mybrytfmonline.com/Obed Ansah
