Local farmers and residents of Obomso-Asikasu near Jumapo in the Akyem Abuakwa North District of the Eastern Region have vowed to fiercely resist attempts by OTADO Investment Limited (OTADO) to take over their 500-acre land.
In view of this, OTADO Investment Limited (OTADO), a 10-year-old estate development company, is facing strong resistance from local farmers and residents in its quest to legitimately acquire the said land for redevelopment purposes.
The Obomso-Asikasu residents say the land acquired by OTADO is a stool belonging to the New Juaben Stool, hence the stiff opposition on their part.
However, addressing the media in Koforidua, the Managing Director of OTADO Investment Limited, Nathan Oti-Anim, said the company has had search at the Lands Commission concluded that the land in question belongs to the Akyem Abuakwa stool.
Due process
He said the company went ahead to contact the Chief of Akyem Kukurantumi and Adontenhene of Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Area, Daasebre Boamah Darko II, for the parcel of land and he gave his consent and concurrence for the acquisition of the land.
Mr. Oti-Anim noted that the Chief of Kukurantumi further informed the local farmers about the sale and advised them to meet with the company to discuss compensation for their crops.
According to him, the farmers refused to meet with OTADO and instead sought the intervention of the Omanhene of New Juaben Traditional Area, Daasebre Kweku Boateng II to plead with him to admit the land belongs to his stool.
“At a durbar held at the Chief’s Palace in Koforidua, Daasebre Kweku Boateng II ruled that the land belongs to the stool of Kukurantumi and advised the farmers to meet with the appropriate authority to discuss compensation. Despite this ruling, the farmers have refused to cooperate with OTADO and have instead resorted to acts of hooliganism”, Mr. Oti-Anim said.
“For peaceful coexistence, we have notified the Eastern Regional Police command about the turn of events on the legitimately acquired land. Our efforts to meet with affected persons to discuss compensation terms has yielded no results,” he added.
