Anger is boiling at Kwaso and Deduako in the Ejisu Constituency in Kumasi, as chiefs and farmers accuse the government and road contractors of unfair treatment, destruction of farmlands, and alleged use of military men to intimidate them.

The residents say their farmlands are being destroyed for the construction of the dual carriage road connecting Ejisu through Kwaso, without compensation or proper consultation.

According to the farmers, government officials had earlier assured them that all affected persons would be compensated after submitting their names through their Assembly Member, Hon. Asare.

But months after the assurance, contractors have returned to site and started clearing farms, destroying economic trees and food crops including palm trees, cocoa, orange and cassava, with no compensation paid.

Gardencitynewsgh.com visited the community  and was reliably  informed by residents that military men in uniform are currently on the field assisting the contractors and intimidating farmers who attempt to agitate or question the destruction.

“There are soldiers on our farms. They are there to scare us so that we cannot talk or challenge them when they destroy our farms. We are afraid,” a farmer alleged.

Gardencitynewsgh.com has not verified the presence of the military, but residents insist their presence is to suppress any protest.

When contacted, the Assembly Member for the area, Hon.Asare, confirmed the farmers submitted their names for compensation. He however stated that he was not informed about the contractors’ return to commence work.

“I was aware of their first visit, but coming back to work on the land, I was not informed,” Hon.Asare said.

The chiefs and farmers are calling on the government, the Ministry of Roads and Highways, the Ghana Armed Forces, and the Ejisu Municipal Assembly to immediately intervene to ensure due compensation is paid.

They warned that their source of livelihood has been destroyed and they will be forced to hit the streets to protest if nothing is done.