He made this speech during a ‘Question and Answer Session’ at the Opening Ceremony of the 2025 National Catechists’ Delegates Conference, held at the Alfons Merten’s Centre, Donkorkrom, on August 22, 2025, in an attempt to respond to a concern raised by one of the Catechists, who sought to know what measures were being taken by Law enforcement Officers to address the constant destruction of farmlands by cattle.
According to him, one of the measures that has been put in place to put an end to this unfortunate situation was that they, together with the District Assembly, had decided to hold a meeting of all stakeholders, including the Chiefs, landowners, and the Assembly, in a week or couple of weeks to come, to discuss on the issue, among others.
The aim of the meeting, he disclosed, was to bring it to the awareness of these stakeholders that they were a major part of the problem, as sources have proven that the herdsmen come in with the connivance of some of the chiefs and the ‘odikros’ and, in some cases, the Assembly members.
“They collect money from the cattle owners, who are not just Fulanis, but include others as well, and in turn let them in, which is by way of encouraging them to come in and do whatever they do,” he revealed.
The Police Supt. Who is a Parishioner at the St. Francis Xavier Cathedral, Donkorkrom, further revealed that he used the medium when the herdsmen are summoned before him, to conscientize and advise them.
“Look, you are rearing your animals for a reason, a good one for that matter, just like every other person is also farming to take care of themselves, their family, so if you allow your animals to go in and destroy the farm produce of others, you are not helping society. Not only are you not helping; you are also not helping the entire society because when there is a food shortage, everybody will suffer,” he conscientized.
He further observed with regret that some of the farmers have, on their part, resorted to “committing crime in the name of checking crime,” adding that they take the laws into their hands by shooting at and killing the cattle, which is also unfair, for the animals too have a right to livelihood.
By no means trying to take sides with the cattle owners who allow their cattle to invade people’s lands, Supt. Mifetu implored the farmers not to kill the animals; rather, they should seek ways of identifying the owners and report them to the police, so that they can deal with them accordingly. One way of knowing the owners, he suggested, was by following the cattle.
Speaking further on the measures put in place to address the issue of herdsmen invading people’s farmlands, the Police Supt. Shared that there were plans underway to allocate a particular area for all the cattle owners, so that it will be specifically for grazing, and void of any human activity. That way, when cattle are discovered grazing on land other than the allocated one, whoever is responsible will be taken to book.
He further observed with consternation why farmlands owned by cattle owners are hardly ever evaded, unlike those of non-cattle owners. This, for him, was a cause for concern and a wake-up call that it was possible to do away with this bad practice.
For him, it is the collective responsibility of all the inhabitants to bring a lasting solution to this malaise in the Afram Plains. Everyone must be proactive, and if they “see something,” they should “say something”.
In other words, if they identify these herdsmen, who often come from across the rivers into the communities, they should kindly alert the powers that be; “report to us! report to Immigration! Let us move in to take action,” he encouraged.
The Police Supt. Who had assumed duty in Donkorkrom barely 3 months ago, further expressed with confidence that his Office has been able to put in check, one other disturbing issue he had come to meet in the system, which was armed robbery.
This, according to him, was a worrying issue, not only to the citizens, who were the victims, but to the police as well, since it is their duty to check crime in society.
He was hopeful that they would continue to implement the measures put in place to maintain peace in the area.
Supt. Mifetu admitted having learnt a lot from the various speeches delivered at the Opening Ceremony, most especially the use of Agro-chemicals and the effects they have on the land and on human life. “I did not know this,” he admitted, adding that such was “a very good learning place for all of us”.
The theme for the Annual National Catechists’ Delegates Conference, which ran from August 21 – 24, 2025, was “Our Call to Care for the Environment: a Divinely Assigned Responsibility.
By Sr. Sylvie Lum Cho, MSHR
Source: newswatchgh.com
