Aggrieved farmers in Akyem Asene, whose farms have been adversely impacted by the construction of the Accra-Kumasi Expressway, expressed their grievances during a press conference held in Akyem Asene, located in the Asene Manso Akroso district of the Eastern Region. They lamented the government’s neglect regarding the non-payment of their compensation.
Speaking to the media at Akyem Asene, the aggrieved farmers lamented bitterly that their cocoa farms, palm plantation, among other crops farms were affected by the Accra-Kumasi Expressway construction but till date, the government has refused to settle them their compensation despite all efforts to draw its attention to their issue.
They divulged that they are more than 200 farmers affected by the Accra-Kumasi Expressway road construction in Akyem Asene and adjoining towns but only less than 20 farmers have received their compensation money meanwhile they keep hearing in the media that they have all received theirs which is total false.
The affected farmers are therefore calling on the government to attend to them by paying their compensation to be able to also settle their financial expenses and also settle their children tuition fees.
The Benkumhene of Akyem Asene, Nana Ntiamoah Nyarko adding his voice to the call of the aggrieved farmers has pleaded with the government to pay the farmers compensation to them because they are really going through difficult and tough time as they can no longer settle their bills.
Hon. Richard Adu Boahen, the Assembly Member for the Asene-Odumase Electoral Area, who also serves as an Electoral Area Coordinator for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has called on the government and other stakeholders to address the concerns of aggrieved farmers.
He stressed that the government had promised to compensate the farmers within three months, but more than eight months had passed without any commitment towards fulfilling that promise.
He explained that the farmers’ cocoa farms had been destroyed by the construction of the Accra-Kumasi Express Road, adversely affecting their livelihoods. He noted that the situation had become particularly worrying as the yuletide season approaches and called on the government and relevant stakeholders to respond swiftly to the farmers’ plight.