The Amantin Traditional Council in the Atebubu-Amantin Municipality of the Bono East Region has accused the people of Akokoa of disregarding a decades-old court ruling and violently seizing farmlands legally owned by the people of Amantin. The council is calling for urgent government intervention, warning that escalating tensions between the two communities could spiral out of control if authorities fail to act.
According to the council, the dispute over the contested land dates back to the early 1980s, culminating in a 1984 court judgment that affirmed the Paramount Chief of Amantin as the rightful owner of the disputed land. However, the council alleges that despite the ruling, the Paramount Chief of Atebubu has refused to accept the decision and has encouraged his sub-chief, the Chief of Akokoa, to harass and intimidate Amantin farmers who have been cultivating portions of the land for decades.
Residents of Amantin recounted harrowing experiences of violence and intimidation, claiming that Akokoa residents have not only seized farmlands but have also carried out acts of terror. Reports indicate that the residence of the Amantinmanhene Dabrehene has been set ablaze, and several Amantin natives have sustained injuries after being attacked with machetes, sticks, wires, and firearms. Farmers say they have been held hostage, beaten, and forced off their land, leaving their families in fear and their livelihoods in jeopardy.
The Amantin Traditional Council has expressed outrage over what it described as the failure of security agencies to act. They accused the Bono East Regional Minister and the Regional Police Command of negligence, claiming that despite numerous reports of violence and destruction of property, not a single perpetrator has been arrested or prosecuted.
At a press briefing today, community members voiced their frustration and accused the Akokoa leadership of deliberately inciting violence to claim ownership of the land. They argued that the continued seizure of farmlands is not only unlawful but also a blatant disregard of a legal ruling that has been in effect for more than three decades. Farmers warned that they are running out of patience as they face economic hardship and insecurity.
Religious leaders in Amantin, who attempted to mediate between the two communities, also reported being subjected to violent intimidation. Members of the Muslim leadership alleged that their motorbikes were set on fire and that they were threatened at gunpoint during efforts to restore calm. The leaders condemned the attacks, describing them as acts of lawlessness that undermine peace and stability in the municipality.
The Traditional Council reaffirmed its community’s commitment to peace and the rule of law, emphasizing that their restraint should not be mistaken for weakness. They warned that if the government and security agencies fail to intervene swiftly, they may be forced to take matters into their own hands to protect their people and property.
In their appeal, the council called on the government, the National Security Council, and all relevant traditional and legal institutions to step in immediately to enforce the 1984 court ruling, restore law and order, and bring the perpetrators of the attacks to justice. They further urged the media and human rights organizations to draw national attention to the situation, stressing that their patience is wearing thin and that the ongoing violence could have wider repercussions for the peace of the Bono East Region if ignored.
