Buipe (NR), April 2, GNA - Mr Issifu Salisu Be-Awuribe, District Chief Executive for Central Gonja, has advised Fulani herdsmen to respect the laws of the nation to maintain the cordial relations between Ghana and their respective countries.

He said though the ECOWAS protocol allows for free movement of persons, goods and services, across borders of member countries, it did not warrant the destruction of farm lands by the alien herdsmen and violation of the country's laws with impunity. Mr Be-Awuribe gave the advice on Wednesday, during the first ordinary session of the District Assembly, held in Buipe, to deliberate on development issues and other matters that would promote the interest of the people.

The DCE said the cattle of Fulani herdsmen continues to cause a lot of havoc to farms and other properties, while some of them were engaged in highway robberies, which was sending a negative signal to Ghanaians about their presence in the country. He said apart from using their cattle to destroy people's farms and engaging in armed robberies, some of them were also raping women and rustling cattle belonging to natives.

He called on the leadership of the Fulani herdsmen to ensure that they took control of their animals and protect them from destroying farms, adding that, they should also desist from negative acts which would influence people to react against them. Mr Be-Awuribe appealed to chiefs and opinion leaders who shield Fulani herdsmen when they err, to desist from doing that and rather use their influence to educate the alien herdsmen to streamline their activities in the country to promote harmony among them and Ghanaian farmers. On road safety, the DCE decried the rampant road accidents on the Buipe-Tamale highway saying, "It is worrisome that many accidents are occurring and nothing is being done about it. A solution should be found to reduce the accidents to the barest minimum in the district." He said the District Security Committee (DISEC) discussed the matter and agreed that speed ramps be constructed at Sankpala, Yapei, Domeabra and Kusawgu junctions as well as the Fufulso and the Buipe stretch of the road to reduce accidents. On peace and security, the DCE said the district was enjoying relative peace due to the understanding and cooperation of chiefs as well as the people of the area and called for a closer cooperation to ensure lasting peace.