Aggrieved farmers in Akyem Asene and adjoining communities in the Asene Manso Akroso District of the Eastern Region have appealed to the government to pay outstanding compensation for farms and crops affected by the construction of the Accra-Kumasi Expressway.
The farmers made the appeal at a press conference in Akyem Asene, where they expressed frustration over what they described as the government’s failure to compensate them despite repeated efforts to draw the authorities’ attention to their plight.
According to the affected farmers, the construction of the major road project has resulted in the destruction of several agricultural properties, including cocoa farms, oil palm plantations and other crop farms, leaving many of them struggling to make ends meet.
They said the situation had placed considerable financial pressure on their households, particularly those who depend on farming as their primary source of livelihood.
The farmers disclosed that more than 200 farmers in Akyem Asene and neighbouring communities had been affected by the expressway construction.
However, they claimed that fewer than 20 of the affected farmers had received compensation, leaving the vast majority still waiting for payment.
They expressed concern that reports circulating in the media suggested that all affected farmers had been compensated, insisting that such reports did not reflect the situation on the ground.
The farmers said the apparent gap between public reports and their actual experiences had deepened their frustration, as many continue to face financial difficulties without receiving the compensation they are due for their affected farms.
They are therefore urging the government and the relevant authorities to investigate their concerns, establish the status of outstanding payments and ensure that all eligible farmers receive their compensation.
The affected farmers said the delay in compensation has affected their ability to meet essential household expenses, including settling outstanding bills and paying their children’s school fees.
They explained that farming remains their main source of livelihood and that the loss of productive farmland without timely compensation had made it increasingly difficult for them to sustain their families.
They appealed to the government to treat the matter as urgent and provide the necessary financial relief to enable them to recover from the impact of the construction project.
Adding his voice to the farmers’ concerns, the Benkumhene of Akyem Asene, Nana Ntiamoah Nyarko, appealed to the government to address the situation and ensure that the affected farmers received their outstanding compensation.
Nana Ntiamoah Nyarko, Benkumhene, Akyem Asene,
He said the farmers are going through difficult times and struggling to meet their financial obligations following the impact of the road construction on their farms.
Nana Ntiamoah Nyarko stressed the need for the government to intervene and help ease the burden on the affected families, many of whom depend on agriculture for their daily sustenance.
He urged the relevant authorities to listen to the farmers’ concerns and take concrete steps to resolve the compensation issue.
The farmers are hopeful that their public appeal will prompt the government and the agencies responsible for the expressway project to address their grievances and ensure that all eligible farmers are duly compensated for their affected agricultural properties.
They maintain that resolving the matter would help restore their livelihoods and enable them to meet their family and financial responsibilities.
By 1960news.com
