Regional News of Thursday, 10 November 2011

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How Akuoko Sarpong Was Stabbed

Of The Agogo Fulani Ruckus…

Aberewapong Odikro, Others Caught Pants Down
Investigative Desk Report
Against the backcloth of series of press conferences held by some youth of Agogo in the Asante Akim North District of the Ashanti Region, in which they sought to impugn the integrity of the Omanhene of Agogo Traditional Area, Nana Akuoko Sarpong as well as extrapolate that he has committed a heinous crime by allowing Fulani herdsmen to settle on their lands, hence the cause of all the fury, in-depth investigations reveal otherwise.
Contrary to assertions and twisting of facts by some media houses, suggesting that Nana Akuoko Sarpong, must be solely blamed for the unstable situation that for months, have painted Agogo in the bad light over his decision to accommodate the Fulani herdsmen on the soils of Agogo, documents currently in our possession, indicate that some individuals including the Aberewapong Odikro, Nana Kwadwo Baah, without the knowledge of the Omanhene were engaged in the sale of lands to some Fulani herdsmen, who had approached them to settle in the area.
It was further revealed during investigations that one Sambo Dango, a Fulani herdsman was asked to pay six thousand Ghana cedis (GH¢6,000.00) in addition to six (6) cows by Nana Kwadwo Baah before settling in an area he claimed to have had jurisdiction over.
At the blind side of Nana Akuoko Sarpong, the Aberewapong Odikro and his group collected whopping sum of four thousand Ghana cedis (GH¢4, 000.00) out of the amount charged, in addition to the six cows that they requested from Sambo Dango before offering him a parcel of land to settle on.
It also came to light that, one Mathew Ateega, a Fulani, without the consent of the Overlord of the Agogo Traditional Area, took various sums of money from colleague Fulani herdsmen, thereby allocating parcels of land to them to settle with their cattle.
As part of this paper’s investigations into how these Fulani herdsmen came to settle in Agogo, it came to fore that Opanyin Kwame Dapaah and Asamoah also engaged in some sales of land to the Fulanis, collecting various sums of money, cows as well as motorbikes from them.
It is, therefore, based on the above sterling revelations that, we think all manner of accusations heaped on Nana Akuoko Sarpong was unjustifiable, when others have also contributed to the settling of these Fulani herdsmen in Agogo.
We also found the action of the Youth of Agogo, particularly in their attempt to attack the National Security Coordinator, Lt. Col. Larry Gbevlo-Lartey, of his calls for strict adherence to law and order, in the area as very unfortunate, having been blind-folded by some of their elders, who have all this while hidden the facts from them.
We, therefore, advise the youth of Agogo against attacks on government’s officials who are working hard to bring a lasting solution and restore peace to the area.