The Member of Parliament (MP) for Sawla-Tuna-Kalba, Hon. Andrew Dari Chiwitey, has made an urgent appeal to the government to intervene in the increasingly volatile relationship between farmers and herdsmen in his constituency and across the country.

In a passionate statement delivered in Parliament on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, Hon Chiwitey  highlighted what he described as a “national crisis” stemming from escalating tensions between the two groups.

He warned that the situation, if left unchecked, could have dire consequences for food security, social stability, and national cohesion.

“Mr. Speaker, the deteriorating relationship between farmers and herdsmen is no longer a local issue — it has grown into a national emergency. The impact on food production, human lives, and the environment is severe and worsening by the day,” Hon Chiwitey said.

According to the MP, farmers in Sawla-Tuna-Kalba are living in fear as armed herdsmen allow their cattle to graze freely on cultivated farmlands, leading to widespread destruction of crops.

The resulting tensions, he said, have sparked violent clashes, injuries, deaths, and the displacement of families.

Citing recent attacks, Hon. Chiwitey recounted disturbing incidents, including the brutal killing of a woman and her son in Korle, the shooting of a boy in Jinevoor, and the murder of a farmer in Dandapere,  all allegedly at the hands of herdsmen.

He also noted that security agencies have sometimes been accused of colluding with the herdsmen, further fueling the mistrust.

He drew parallels with similar conflicts in other regions, including the Ashanti Region’s Sekyere Central District and Agogo, and warned of the risks of repeating the devastating consequences seen in countries like Nigeria, where clashes between farmers and herdsmen have led to thousands of deaths and mass displacement.

“The situation in my constituency is a warning sign. If we don’t act decisively, we risk a much larger crisis,” he said.

Beyond the human toll, the MP raised concerns about the environmental degradation caused by open grazing.

He said uncontrolled cattle movement was contributing to deforestation, land degradation, and water pollution, all of which pose long-term threats to communities dependent on agriculture.

To address the problem, Hon. Chiwte proposed key interventions including the establishment of a legal framework to regulate herdsmen’s activities and protect the rights of farmers, promotion of peaceful dialogue and conflict resolution mechanisms between the two groups and support for alternative livelihoods, especially the adoption of modern ranching practices.

He further called for stakeholders of peace to have engagement with landowners to explore effective settlement options for herdsmen and national policy shift toward ranching as a sustainable solution to open grazing.

Hon. Chiwitey however urged parliament and the government to act swiftly and decisively, saying, “We cannot afford to wait until more lives are lost or more communities are destroyed,” he stressed. “It is our responsibility to safeguard the peace, livelihoods, and dignity of every Ghanaian. Let us act now.”

The MP call adds to growing nationwide concerns over persistent farmer-herder clashes and the urgent need for lasting, sustainable solutions.

 

Source: Felix Nyaaba/expressnewsghana.com

 

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