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Ogyeahoho Yaw Gyebi II Leads Mediation to Restore Calm Between Aboabo and Rainforest Builder Ghana
Source: Justice Baffour//www.dailywatchgh.com
A high-powered mediation team led by the President of the National House of Chiefs, Ogyeahoho Yaw Gyebi II, has successfully calmed tensions between the Aboabo Community and Rainforest Builder Ghana Limited. The team included the Member of Parliament for Bibiani-Anhwiaso-Bekwai, the Municipal Chief Executive, traditional rulers, security officials, and representatives of major political parties.
In his opening remarks, Ogyeahoho Gyebi II recounted a petition filed by the Aboabo community, who accused workers of Rainforest Builder Ghana of committing various atrocities against residents. He further disclosed that the community had staged a demonstration to demand portions of the land for farming and other livelihood activities. Several engagements, he said, had been held with the feuding factions prior to the mediation.
The dialogue brought together chiefs, officials from Rainforest Builder Ghana, the Forestry Commission, the MP, the MCE, and representatives of the Aboabo community. To the surprise of the crowd, discussions were conducted in a cordial and diplomatic manner.
Key issues at the heart of the dispute included the allocation of compartments of the Anhwiaso East Forest Reserve to Rainforest Builder Ghana for afforestation, alleged inequities in profit-sharing agreements, destruction of crops, human rights abuses, and damage to tree species.
The mediation also addressed wider concerns such as the rampant activities of illegal miners. Ogyeahoho Gyebi condemned the destruction of virgin forest at Bunkaso and decried violent acts committed by thugs linked to Koantwi Mines against residents of Merewa. The meeting further denounced the destruction of cocoa farms and assaults on farmers allegedly carried out by Forestry Commission officials, pledging full investigations and prosecution of culprits.
To conclude, Nana Ama Yisrah, Executive Director of Colandef, a peacebuilding consultancy, assured residents that their concerns as well as proposals from traditional rulers and government officials-would be given due attention. A follow-up meeting was scheduled to work towards a lasting resolution of the impasse.
