Residents of Aboabo, a farming community in the Bibiani Anhwiaso Bekwai Municipality of the Western North Region, have staged a protest against Rain Forest Builder, accusing the company of unlawfully encroaching on their farmlands.
The residents claim that the lands were officially allocated to them by the Bibiani Forestry Commission for both tree planting and crop cultivation.
However, they allege that Rain Forest Builder, which was contracted to undertake tree planting in the area, has exceeded its mandate and taken over portions of their farmland, threatening their livelihoods.
During the demonstration, the protesters expressed deep concern over the development, emphasising that farming remains their primary source of income and survival. They warned that losing access to their farmlands would have dire consequences for their families and the community at large.
The Chief of Aboabo, Nana Kofi Kobri II, who threw his support behind the residents, appealed to traditional and political authorities, including Ogyeahoho Nana Yaw Gyebi II, the Municipal Chief Executive, the Member of Parliament for the area, and the Bibiani Forestry Commission, to step in and halt the company’s encroachment.
The protest underscores rising tensions between farming communities and corporate institutions over land use in the Western North Region, with residents demanding transparency, fairness, and protection of their rights in the management of forest lands.
