Fisher, a farming community near Ettukrom in the Abuakwa North Municipality of the Eastern Region, is embroiled in a dispute after reports of Chinese investors and Ghanaian mining partners allegedly destroying several acres of a rubber plantation. The land, once owned by Nawara Mining Company, is said to have been forcefully entered by armed personnel, leading to the uprooting of rubber trees and the displacement of peasant farmers.
Local leaders allege that the invaders, accompanied by military personnel, threatened farmers against returning to their fields. They claim the destruction was part of a broader takeover of Nawara Mining’s concessions by the Chinese investors and their Ghanaian counterparts.
Traditional rulers of Ettukrom, custodians of the concession, maintain that the lease granted to Nawara Mining Company has expired, and the land should revert to the traditional authority. The chief of Ettukrom, Barima Ettu Adomako III, addressed a press conference calling on President John Dramani Mahama, the Ministry of the Interior, National Security, and the Ghana Police Service to intervene immediately to prevent the situation from escalating.
"I’m calling on the President to intervene in the matter. There is an allegation that Ibrahim Mahama, the President’s brother, has taken over the concession. However, no documents have been presented to support the claim, making it difficult for me to believe the information. If Ibrahim Mahama is indeed involved, we need to engage in dialogue. But if he is not involved, we demand that the encroachers leave the land," said the chief.
Authorities have not yet confirmed the allegations, and the case remains under investigation. The community’s future depends on a resolution that addresses land rights, investor conduct, and the safety of local farmers. The next steps will likely involve legal scrutiny of the lease agreements and potential intervention by national security forces to restore order.
