News:
February 2, 2018
As part of finding solution to the brouhaha between nomadic herdsmen and farmers, Committee on Defence and Interior is seeking approval of the House to undertake a fact-finding tour to three West African sub-regions to find solutions to the conflict.
According to Mr. Seth Akyeampong, chairman of the committee earlier findings of the committee show negative activities of the nomadic herdsmen were prevalent.
Hence the need to embark on a study tour to learn how other countries had handled the challenges of the nomadic herdsmen.
Mr. Akyeampong said memos were already before the Majority Secretariat awaiting for approval for the fact-finding visits to the three countries, namely; Nigeria, Burkina Faso and Cote d’Ivoire.
Presenting his report on the fallout from tensions between farmers and nomadic herdsmen referred to the Committee by the Speaker of Parliament, the Mpraeso legislator said, if approved, an eight-man team would travel for the assignment.
The causes of tensions between farmers and nomadic herdsmen are seen to be essentially the same across the sub-region.
The disagreements are always over the use of farmland, grazing areas and water between herders and local farmers.
The herders have consistently clashed with farmers who accuse them of damaging their crops and failing to control their animals.
But the casualties are significantly higher in Nigeria, where more than 1, 200 people were killed in 2014 by different groups of Fulani herders, according to the Global Terrorism Index.
A mass burial for over 70 people was held in Nigeria’s central Benue State in January 2018.
By: Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com