By Alex Ababio
Ghanaian Watch Newspaper investigation has revealed that the Multi-Million dollar Kwahu Afram Plains Cattle Ranch at Wawase in the Afram Plains South District in the Eastern region has become death trap for thousands of Cattle which have been confined to the Folder Bank within the ranch .
The establishment of the ranch which President Akufo Addo said in his speech during his familiarisation tour on Saturday ,24th November 2018 that it was going to help to end the incident of clashes between local farmers and nomadic herdsmen has failed to live up to its purpose despite millions of dollars of tax payers money pumped into the construction of the facility.
Our investigations can confirm that the Wawase Folder Bank which was commissioned for Cattle Farmers in the area, some years ago by the President, His Excellency Nana Akufo Addo on pilot basis has become life threatening for the animals as condition to support proper and internationally accepted method for ranching is virtually nil at the place.
And the little compressed and pelleted feeds that were provided at the place were highly disease infectious for the survival of the animals.
There was very little or no maintenance which had been carried out, making the place a breeding grounds for infectious Android zoonotic disease.
Our checks have revealed that over 200 Cattle belonging to local farmers have either died or stolen since the establishment of the ranch.
As we got into the ranch we witnessed it had become a place where terror lurks around every corner as if it was a vampire haunt where some evil spirits come to feed on the blood of the Cattle.
We saw a number of Cattle which were once plumpy and fat and have now turned into a walking skeleton or horribly looking skinny animals.
There was no folder for them to feed on except some weeds which the local people called ‘Acheampong’
The little water in the pond had turned into green/black fungus and some had over grown with weeds whiles about 180 cm long other empty metal water trays for the animals had their bottom eaten away by rusting.
We can confirmed that the management at the rank were still practicing Semi-intensive Rearing Method where in the morning they would send the animals for gracing outside the ranch and bring them back to the Folder Bank in the evening, apparently for lack of folder at the rank.
Our team also discovered that, there was no security, veterinary services; proper and adequate feeding whiles wholesome or potable water for the Cattle was not provided.
The feeds provided at the ranch were expired whiles others were alien to the animals, making it difficult for the Cattle to survive.
However, the management have cultivated maize farms on thousands of acre land instead of folder for the animals to feed on.
Ghanaian Watch Newspaper investigations team unraveled this after the alleged ultimatum given to the Cattle Farmers in the area by the National Security through the Kwahu -District Assembly led by the Chief Executive , Hon. George Ofori that the farmers should send back their Cattle to the folder bank or face rigorous actions from soldiers who had been dispatched to the area to shoot and kill any stray Cattle outside the ranch.
Speaking in an interview with the General Secretary of the Kwahu Cattle Farmers Association ,Mr Avor Besah Theophilus , to find out why his members of the association were adamant to send their Cattle to the folder bank , he discounted the claim that they were unwilling to send their animals to the facility ,but stressed that the condition at the ranch was not conducive for rearing of the animals .
He further stated that the members of the association were fully prepared and ready to meet the management and the National Ranching Committee for memorandum of understanding before they would send their Cattle to the ranch .
Mr Avor alleged that the management at the ranch were using the same Semi-intensive Method the farmers were using to rear the animals which the Government ordered them to stop because the animals were causing destruction to food crops of the indigenous farmers.
He further stated that there was no proper provision of water for the animals to drink.
“For the little knowledge we have about the Cattle, they also need clean water to drink just as we human beings do.
We know Cattle cannot be reared in the forest zone.It is not good for them. When you go into the Folder Bank you would realized that about 80 per cent of the geographical area within the Folder Bank is covered by trees.” He stressed
On his part, the Organiser of the Kwahu Cattle Farmers Association, Mr Awuku Dzobo reiterated that they have invested so much in the Cattle business and that they would not succumb to any threat by sending their Cattle to the ranch to lose their investment .
He, therefore, called on President Akufo Addo to institute a committee to take a look at the situation since the Ranch is virtually collapsing with only 600 Cattle left from the initial number of 3000.
“We know President Akufo Addo does not know what is going on at the Ranch .It is possible that some selfish people are giving him false information about the current true state of the place ,but trying to paint a picture that the work at the ranch is progressing.”
Chief Kwadwo Haruna a member of the Association called on the government to investigate what was going on to put Cattle rearing business in shape since it employs whole lot of Ghanaians .
He noted that he alone had 44 of his Cattle missing from the ranch and the management of the place could not provide any tangible reason as to how the animals got missing.
Meanwhile, the National Chairman of the Ghana National Association of Cattle Farmers, who doubles as a member of the Ghana Cattle Ranching Committee, Imam Hanafi Sunday who had earlier spoke to the media concerning the announcement of soldiers deploring to shoot any stray Cattle outside the rank confirmed the deplorable nature of the ranch and called on the Ministry of Agriculture and the National Security to find an workable solution to the problem
Ghanaian Watch Newspaper’s effort to contact the District Chief Executive, DCE, for Kwahu Afram Plains South Hon. George Ofori to get his side of the story Proved futile .
The construction of the Cattle Ranch was in fulfilment of a Campaign pledge the President, Nana Akufo Addo made in the run-up to the 2016 elections ,as a possible measure to curbing the numerous deadly clashes between nomadic herdsmen and local Farmers ,which , over the years , have claimed many lives and properties .
“Some three weeks ago, there were 450 cattle at this ranch. But today, as a result of government’s policies and the harmonious working relationship, we have 3,000 cattle in this kraal. I am hoping that by December, we would have 6,000 cattle. This can only happen if there is co-operation, and when we work together,” these were words of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo Addo.
It will be recalled that President Akufo-Addo stated that the government’s establishment of a cattle ranch in Wawase, located in the Afram Plains South District, is effectively reducing clashes between local farmers and nomadic herdsmen.
In order to fulfill a campaign promise made during the 2016 election, President Akufo-Addo initiated the construction of the cattle ranch as a solution to the longstanding issue of conflicts between nomadic herdsmen and farmers. These clashes have tragically resulted in loss of life and destruction of property.
Following a visit to the cattle ranch on November 24, 2018, the President disclosed that the government plans to establish three additional ranches in Forifori, Chemfeh, and Amankwakrom, all situated in Afram Plains.
With the current Wawase cattle ranch accommodating approximately 3,000 cattle, President Akufo-Addo emphasized that the success of this facility will serve as a catalyst for the establishment and subsequent success of the other ranches.
In light of this, the President called upon landowners and cattle owners to collaborate closely with the government to ensure the prosperity of the Wawase ranch and its operations.
The ongoing clash between nomadic herdsmen and local farmers has tragically resulted in numerous casualties and extensive property damage. The prevention of such incidents lies in the hands of regional and national authorities. With lives hanging in the balance, immediate action is imperative to prevent further loss of life and properties in this entirely preventable conflict.