Opinions of Tuesday, 19 April 2016

Columnist: kasapafmonline.com

Agogo: We’ve no confidence in Minister’s intervention – Residents

Residents of Agogo have said that until the Regional Security Council (REGSEC) go by the court’s decision to sack all Fulani herdsmen from their enclave, it will be difficult to accede to the demands of the REGSEC for them to return to the negotiation table.

According to them, progress has stalled in the road map to ending the protracted issues in Agogo because the REGSEC led by the Regional Minister had compromised its stance on the Fulani menace.

A meeting scheduled at the instance of the REGSEC for all stakeholders to deliberate on the way forward in Agogo/Fulani matters was abandoned by the Agogo Youth Association(AYA) because they claimed the minister has already taken entrenched position on the issues, hence they see no reason to resume any talks with them.

Speaking to Fiifi Banson on Anopa Kasapa on Kasapa 102.3 FM Tuesday, the Secretary of the Agogo Youth Association, said the marathon meetings are misplaced since the implementation of a court decision that will end their woes have been ignored by the Regional Minister and REGSEC.

“There seem to be no urgency on their part to help us resolve this completely. I’ve even lost count of how many times we have had to take such meetings. Besides, I don’t see that their position on the issues will bring the expected progress we want. A day before the crucial meeting they are contending, the Minister had been on radio and in public discussions saying that for the fact that the Fulanis have almost become like settlers of Agogo, it will be very cumbersome to evict all of them.

“This was why last week we had to call for a demonstration to forward our petition to the President and make known to him that his officials overseeing the issues that have plagued us for many years have indeed failed. A copy of our resolution has been sent to him[Minister] for his attention. Such meetings should be shelved for now.

However, the Regional Minister, Mr. John Alexander Ackon, is still optimistic that their resolve to return to discussions, specifically on the approach to tackling the issues will facilitate efforts to ending the problems.