The chiefs and people of Tanoso in the Tano North District of the Brong-Ahafo Region have demonstrated against a private company, Asuowam Clay Products, for illegally claiming ownership of 275 acres of land belonging to the Tanoso Traditional Council.

According to the demonstrators, Asuowam Clay Products Company, headed by Mr. Clement Boateng, has been intimidating clay moulders, farmers and land owners at Tanoso, simply because the company is claiming ownership of the land where they get clay to mould earthenware bowls, pots and other items.

Tanoso is noted for the manufacturing of clay products such as earthenware bowls, pots and burnt bricks in the Brong-Ahafo Region, hence the majority of the inhabitants are engaged in the clay business, whilst a few amongst them deal in small scale farming and trading.

The Chairman of the Clay Moulders Association, Land Owners and Tanoso Youth, Mr. Ben Amoako Atta, who led the demonstration, indicated that Mr. Clement Boateng’s claim to own the 275 acres of land is a blatant lie, and that there was no way the youth and people of Tanoso would agree.

In a petition sent to the Brong-Ahafo Regional Minister, Eric Opoku, the irate Tanoso people explained that Asuowam only bought the land from Brandeck Company, which covers about three acres of land, so it is surprising for him to claim 275 acres.

According to the demonstrators, the Director of Asuowam Clay Company has been moving about with a lease covering the 275 acres of land he claims belong to him, signed by the Paramount Chief of Sunyani, Nana Bosoma Asor Nkrawiri, who is not the traditional head of Tanoso stool lands.

The demonstrators argued that the said lease is a fictitious one, because the Paramount Chief of Sunyani has no right to sign a lease on the Tanoso Stool land, while the Tanosohene, Nana Asare Baffour, is there.

They further alleged that Asuowam has planted teak trees around the land which doesn’t belong to the company, but the Tanoso traditional authority.

In his quest to forcibly claim ownership to the land, the demonstrators claimed, Asuowam had been using the police to intimidate any farmer who goes onto the land, with arrest.

The irate Tanoso residents have, therefore, called on the Regional Minister and the District Chief Executive for Tano North, to, as a matter of urgency, stop Asuowam, otherwise they would have no option than to face him equally. They added that a quick r esponse to the issue would avert any trouble between Asuowam Company Limited and the Tanoso Clay Moulders, youth and farmers.

In an interview with the Chief of Tanoso, Nana Asare Baffour, he indicated that the Director of Asuowam Company Limited was illegally trying to claim ownership of the land. On the issue of the lease signed by the Paramount Chief of Sunyani, he said the matter was in court.

According to Nana Asare Baffour, the lease document Asuowam is holding is a forged one, because the Sunyanihene personally had explained that he did not do due diligence as the Chairman of the Lands Commission when signing.

He affirmed his support for the demonstration, because Asuowam had no legitimate right to claim ownership of the land, and that it belongs to the people of Tanoso, and has been their major source of livelihood.

When The Chronicle contacted Nana Bosoma Asor Nkrawiri for his side of the story, he explained that he signed the document as a Chairman of Regional Lands Commission, and not as an overseer of Tanoso Stool lands. He further explained that the documents were among other lease documents which were brought before him to sign as the Chairman of the Lands Commission.

The Managing Director of Asuowam Clay Products, Ernest Apraku, also indicated to The Chronicle that his company is the legitimate owner of the 275 acres of land, with genuine documents covering it. He debunked the claims by the people that Asuowam Company has been using the police to intimidate whoever enters the land, saying the people are allowed to do their activities on the land without any restriction.