Farmers in the Nkoranza South and Nkoranza North Districts are facing a growing crisis as Fulani herdsmen and their grazing cattle continue to wreak havoc on farmlands, destroying crops and causing significant losses for farmers.
A recent visit by Ghanaian RADAR (April 14-15, 2025,) to the two districts revealed that the problem has persisted for over a decade, with the menace intensifying in recent years.
Cashew, yam, maize and other food crop farmers are struggling to protect their livelihoods from stray grazing cattle, this paper learned.
Some of the affected communities include Busunya, Dromankese, Fiema, Bonte, Akrudwa No. 1 & 2, Boabeng, Adumasa, Penyina, Fakwase, Senya, Betoda, Pruso, Bredi No. 1 & 2, Asuano, Kyeredasu and
The situation, Ghanaian RADAR discovered, has become a daily battle for farmers, who are forced to count losses as cattle roam freely, destroying crops and farmlands.
Multiple sources told our reporter that some chiefs are also complicit, collecting huge sums of money from cattle owners and allocating land to their herdsmen.
The crisis has further implications, contaminating vital water bodies like Rivers Pru and Fia, which serve as sources of water for communities in Nkoranza North and South.
These rivers have become polluted due to the herdsmen allowing their cattle to drink from them, leaving behind cow droppings, posing a significant threat to the health and well-being of the affected communities.
Additionally, Ghanaian RADAR gathered that the cattle menace has led to a surge in armed robbery cases in the two Nkoranza districts, with many cases involving Fulani herdsmen.
Despite measures such as watchdog committees, military patrols, and ultimatums from some chiefs in Nkoranza North and South to the herdsmen, the menace persists.
Residents claimed the herdsmen are often armed and ready to confront anyone who challenges them.
A maize farmer in Donkro Nkwanta in the Nkroanza South, Opanyin Yaw Antwi, lamented the damage done to his maize crops by the cattle.
“And when I tried confronting the herdsman, he threatened me with a locally manufactured gun,” he stated.
“It will also help if the joint military and police patrols are increased in the both Nkoranza North and South. This measure, I believe, will help a great deal in reducing the damaged caused by the grazing cattle,” Opanyin Antwi suggested.
In the light of the above, residents in both Nkoranza North and South called on the central government to build a cattle ranch which will cater for the cattle that are brought into the area.
This, according to them, will enable all the cattle that are brought there to be registered together with their herdsmen.
“At the ranch, the cattle will be well fed, given water and control them straying to graze people’s farms,” Opanyin Antwi stressed.
He noted this will also enable both the Nkoranza north and south to take punitive action against any herdsman who fails to register and whose cattle violate any of its bye-laws.
Story & Pictures By: Dennis Ato Keelson,
Back From Nkoranza North & South, Bono East Region.
