By Alex Boye
The Paramount Chief of the Osudoku Traditional Area in the Greater Accra Region, Nene Aadegbor Ngmogmowuyaa Kwesi Animle VI, is being accused of threatening the Paramount Chief of the Sohapa Traditional Area, Nene Otu Ackam and residents of the area over a 32,000 acre land.
According to the people of sohapa, the the chief of Osudoku knows the land does not belong to him he has sought the assistance of some armed men to claim it by force .
The chief and people of Sohapa say they are leaving in fear due to constant attackes by the armed men sent to the aea by the Chief of Osudoku. They claim they are being forced to vacate their farm lands and homes by the Osudoku chief and his armed men who are always dressed in military uniform.
Speaking at news conference, the Chief of Sohapa, Nene Otu Ackam I, disclosed that the Osudoku chief and his armed men have been persistently attacking them over a land that they have occupied for over four hundred years .
The said land, Nene Ackam I said was given to Sohapa Traditional Area as a gift by the Atakpam Family backed by documents and did not understand why the Osudoku Chief could fight them over their bonafide property.
“Sohapa was founded and possessed purely by the people of Ningo. We have lived here for over four hundred years without disturbances or encumbrances. The main stay of the people is farming. The area though falls under the Osudoku state boundary, is part of the Ningo traditional area and administration” he stated.
The Chief informed that when the Osudoku Chief attempted to claim what obviously does not belong to them , he resorted to the use of gunmen, land guards and soldiers of unknown identity to harass them .
He also said Nene Animle, under the full protection and guard from some huge tugs is selling their farm lands and has further allocated some for commercial sand winning.
The worried Chief indicated that attempts made to stop Nene Animle from attacking them has not been successful , adding that on numerous occasions, he(Nene Animle) hired men to abduct his people in their farms .
“With the threats on our lives and the possibility of civic strife glaring at us, we are ready to possess and protect what is ours, our heritage and the home of our fathers. We have petitioned the minister of national security and copied all the security apparatus’ to intervene ” he hinted.
The Sohapa Chief therefore advised the Osudoku Chief to exercise restrain since the case is pending in in court .
