The clan heads and farmers in Pakyi No. 2 of the Amansie West District in the Ashanti Region have kicked against the intentions of their chief, Nana Kyei Asiama Aduakwa II, to demarcate farmlands for a solar energy project.
According to the group, the chief is demanding 10,000 hectares of their farmlands for the project without proper consultations with the land owners.
Secretary to the group, Mr E.T. Adu Poku told The Finder that the chief has refused to negotiate with owners of the lands in spite of several calls asking for a roundtable discussion on terms and conditions.
Following this, there have been several confrontations between the chief and the family heads and farmers.
"So far as they are concerned, the project is suspended as both parties have not been able to agree on suitable terms,� he said.
He reiterated that even though the issue is not solved, few weeks ago, contractors of the project have started ploughing their farmlands and cutting down food crops on lands measuring 60 miles and beyond.
Presently, the surveyors have demarcated lines of about 600 metres throughout their farms with fixed concrete pillars.
Due to this new twist, the entire community arranged an open forum discussion on Thursday, April 24, 2014 but the chief, surveyors and contractors refused to honour their invitation.
Mr Opoku said their worry is that if care is not taken, the project would render farmers working on about 2,000 acres of land jobless.
This, he said, would increase poverty and hunger in the community as the majority of people in the town are mainly farmers.
He also stated that the chief would have to provide classrooms in the already congested Pakyi town for those in villages who would be affected by the project.
Mr Opoku is therefore demanding compensation from the project contractors to be paid to farmers who have had their food crops destroyed during the land demarcation.
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