Afienya-Mataheko, July 26, GNA - Colonies of army ants popularly known as 'Charles Taylor' are currently reducing vegetable production in the Prampram traditional area of the Dangme West District. According to Nene Lawer the, sub-chief of the area, who spoke to the GNA in an interview, the ants attack the roots of tomato seedlings and bore holes in the fresh okro, thus reducing the quality of the vegetables.

Nene Lawer, who is a tomato and okro farmer said the farmers tried to apply DDT against the insects but could not cope with the rate at which they reproduce. He said farmers' complaints channelled to the Food and Agriculture extension division failed to yield any response. Explaining how the ants behave, the sub-chief said they build sand dunes around their native holes from where they massively find shelter to attack the crops and toes of farmers who wore no boots, inflicting pain and itching on them. Nene Lawer said the ants which are not initially in the area and believed to have been brought in from Liberia could now also be found in locations around Michel Camp vegetable nursery lands, Tema and the Tema General hospital.