Members of AFROFIG the Press Conference in Bolgatanga
A group calling itself AFROFIG (Arise For Rights of Fulanis in Ghana) has called on government to get the various District, Municipal and Metropolitan Assemblies across the country, to take steps towards the creation of grazing zones for cattle for a fee.
The group noted that, this practice has been in place in some countries noted for cattle rearing for years, and Ghana can also adopt it for effective cattle rearing and to ensure peaceful co-existence between herdsmen, particularly Fulanis and communities.
According to the group, if this is done, then Fulanis rearing their own cattle or rearing for Ghanaian owners, will have no excuse for their cattle grazing on people’s farms, and will in the long-term, result in peaceful co-existence with the natives of any community they find themselves.
“But for this issue of some Fulanis grazing their cattle on people’s farms, there wouldn’t have been any problem between Fulanis and natives of host communities. There are Fulanis who are Ghanaians, but due to this issue, they are all being maltreated and their lives threatened. Government has to take the lead in the creation of these grazing zones across the country as a long-term solution to this problem. Fulanis also deserve to live in peace and their rights respected,” the Spokesperson asserted.
The Spokesperson for AFROFIG, Mohammed Ibrahim Bari Diallo, in an interview with the DAILY GUIDE in Bolgatanga said, government should rather focus its attention on the benefits of cattle rearing to the country’s economy and not over-concentrate on the problems caused by a few Fulanis, whose cattle may have gone astray and resulted in the current misunderstandings between Fulanis and natives of some farming communities in Southern Ghana.
Earlier this week, former President of Ghana, John Agyekum Kufuor made a similar call, for Assemblies to create grazing zones for cattle, so as to get cattle owners or their Fulani caretakers grazing their cattle within an agreed range.
Mr. Bari Diallo said, the various Assemblies will generate a lot of revenue from the grazing zones and cattle owners will also make money, if Assemblies or Central Government invest in Meat Factories to buy cattle reared in their districts.
“It will also create jobs for youth who will go into grass cultivation and hay production. But for their movement in search of grazing areas, no one will have problems with Fulanis, neither will Fulanis have problem with any native of their host communities. Also, people, as well as the government, would have been talking about the business side of cattle rearing and how to create jobs in that sector. Now, everybody is talking about the misunderstanding and not the business side. Let government and District Assemblies agree to create the grazing zones and this problem will be resolved.”
“AFROFIG wants the government to act upon these proposals within 20 working days or else AFROFIG in collaboration with the Cattle Rearers Association of Ghana and other Human Rights Organizations will head for court to push for the rights of Fulanis.
FROM: EBO BRUCE-QUANSAH, Bolgatanga