Some farmers at Akyem Asuom in the Kwaebibirem Municipality of the Eastern Region have clashed with their Member of Parliament for the Kade Constituency, Kwabena Ohemeng-Tinyase over the distribution of Palm Seedlings meant for the government’s Planting for Export and Rural Development (PERD) Program.
The farmers claim that the MP has ‘hijacked’ the distribution of the palm seedlings and is distributing them to his party delegates for votes ahead of the party’s parliamentary primaries scheduled to take place later this year.
Speaking to the Daily Statesman, Frederick Akuffo, Secretary of Artisanal Palm Oil Association said “the distribution of the seedlings delayed after they have successfully registered for the project but they got a leak that the MP has gotten into contact with the distributors to halt the distribution.
Mr. Akuffo said the distribution of the palm seedlings was supposed to be done by Mineral Development Fund (MDF).
However, he noted that after the delivery of the first palm seedlings by a truck, two other trucks that were supposed to deliver other sets of palm seedlings were impounded by ‘boys’ of the MP who chased farmers and personnel on board the truck with cutlasses and other dangerous weapons.
The farmers have therefore called on the MP to return the seedlings to them or face their wrath.
Response
But responding to the issues raised by the farmers in an interview with the Daily Statesman, the MP, Mr. Ohemeng-Tinyase said he asked his boys to stop the distribution because the distributors were taking advantage of the seedlings to ‘exploit’ the unsuspecting farmers.
He said the seedlings are free and so he will not allow anybody or group of persons to use a free government project to exploit the people.
The MP alleged that the distributors were taking GHC30.00 from each farmer before giving them the seedlings.
“I stand for the good of my people. I will not allow anybody to use government project to make undue money for himself. If you need money, do your own business, but you cannot use government project for that. I will not allow that.” The MP told the Daily Statesman.
He added that though he stopped the people, he distributed the seedlings to other farmers in the constituency and debunked the allegation that he did that for ‘vote buying’ ahead of the primaries.
“I am happy they said, I diverted it other part of the constituency and didn’t say I went to sell them. I gave them to people who are also farmers in the constituency and also deserve to benefit from government projects.” He said.
Meanwhile the MP says he has also handed over the issues surrounding the distribution to the appropriate security agencies to investigate adding that he will “follow it to the latter” to ensure that the right things are done.
