Abease sub-chief seeks security intervention in dispute over market land
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The Kyidom Hene of the Abease Traditional Area has asked regional and national security councils to intervene in a dispute with the paramount chief over land earmarked for a 24-hour economy market in Pru West District.
The Kyidom Hene of the Abease Traditional Area, Nana Kokwa Boffour II, has called for urgent security intervention in Zabrama and surrounding communities in the Pru West District of the Bono East Region, warning that the Paramount Chief, Obrempong Kru Takyi II, should be held responsible if the ongoing tensions lead to bloodshed.
The appeal follows growing concern over a land dispute involving a proposed 24-hour economy market site, as well as claims of intimidation against residents of Abease, Zabrama and Dama-Nkwanta. According to the Kyidom Hene, the dispute centres partly on land earmarked for the market, which he said the Zabrama divisional chief and the community’s Odikro had released to the government for the project.
He alleged that the paramount chief had been attempting to interfere with the land and had intimidated residents using vigilantes and alleged armed guards brought in from neighbouring Ivory Coast. The allegations have not been independently verified, and no response from the paramount chief was included in the account.
“We shall ensure that no one takes over the 24-hour economy market land which the chief and the people of Zabrama have given to the Ghanaian government,” Nana Kokwa Boffour II said. He appealed to the Bono East Regional Security Council, the Pru West District Security Council, the National Security Council and the Bono East Regional House of Chiefs to intervene before the situation escalates.
He also asked the Bono East Regional Minister, the Pru West District Chief Executive, Samuel Agyapong, and other state officials to engage the paramount chief over the land dispute, alleged indiscriminate land sales and concerns involving Fulani herders and cattle, and urged residents, particularly the youth, to remain calm and pursue dialogue and lawful means of resolving their grievances.
Kyereme Charles, chairman of the youth groups in Abease, Zabrama and surrounding communities, appealed to President John Dramani Mahama and security agencies to provide adequate protection for residents. He alleged that money had been used to influence police officers in the area and that armed guards had been brought from Ivory Coast to intimidate residents; those claims have also not been independently established.
He called on the National Security Council, the Bono East Regional Security Council, the Pru West District Security Council and the district assembly to intervene to protect residents of Zabrama, Komfokrom, Abease, Kamampa, Krobo, Cherembo, Dama-Nkwanta and neighbouring communities, saying residents were determined to protect public property and support development projects intended to benefit them.