Ketu North: Tension Escalates in Dzodze Communities As Fulani Herdsmen Defy Eviction Deadline
- Fulani herdsmen in Dzodze defied the eviction deadline as they remained put, grazing their cattle in the very same area they had been asked to vacate
- Meanwhile, the District Coordinator disputed the deadline date, saying September 30 was the set cut-off, not September 1
- Local authorities feared violence would erupt if herdsmen failed to evacuate their cattle from the communities
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Fear of violence is mounting in some communities around Dzodze in the Ketu North municipality as a September 1 deadline for herdsmen to evacuate their cattle has passed without compliance, leading to growing frustration and fear among local communities.
Source: Getty Images
The core of the dispute, a long-standing issue in Ghana, revolves around the alleged destruction of farms by cattle and the safety of residents.
The chief of Dalikope, Togbi Dali, expressed the community's rising impatience in an interview with YEN.com.gh, stating that they were expecting them to evacuate their cattle by the deadline, but that did not happen, and the problems they have with them still persist.
The situation has been aggravated by recent developments in the area.
“Now, what they [herdsmen] have done is that they have constructed a new big cattle pen at Dememordzi, another nearby community,” Togbi Dali stated, adding that “This new pen is also becoming a concern for us. That was how it started in my area, and we are now seeing the outcome. Our people are still being patient with the matter, but it could soon get to the point where we wouldn't be able to rein them in. This is what scares me,” he stated
A history of conflict in Ketu North
The eviction notice is the latest chapter in a recurring conflict between sedentary farmers and nomadic herdsmen, a problem that has plagued various parts of Ghana for decades.
These conflicts are often rooted in competition for scarce resources like land and water, exacerbated by climate change, which forces herders to move south in search of pasture.
However, there appears to be a disagreement on the official timeline.
While the affected communities were expecting a departure, the Ketu North District Coordinator, Jasper Adenyo, clarified the assembly's position that the deadline is September 30, and not September 1, he told YEN.com.gh.
Mr. Adenyo also contextualised the issue as a historical one, not a recent development.
“This herdsman issue has been in existence for a long time... The Agogo herdsmen issue happened under Rawlings. Kufour also came to meet such issues as well as Atta Mills, Akufo-Addo, and John Mahama. Has any of these leaders asked herdsman to take their cattle out of the country?...” he questioned, suggesting that a simple eviction is not a viable or historical solution.
Plea for understanding amid simmering tensions
Caught in the middle are the herdsmen, who feel they are being unfairly targeted.
One of them, Saajo, defended their presence and practices, saying “...we don't commit crimes. All we do is take care of our cattle. But whenever something bad happens, they [community folks] always point fingers at us. It's not good,” he lamented.
Saajo appealed to a sense of shared nationality and denied the accusations of intentional destruction.
As the September 30 deadline approaches, the situation between the herdsmen and farmers remains tense.
Meanwhile, the district police command could not be reached for comment on this matter.
Source: UGC
Previous deadline for Fulani herdsmen to vacate
Previously, YEN.com.gh reported that Fulani herdsmen had been given a deadline of August 31, 2025, to leave the area amid tensions with local farmers.
The herdsmen were accused of harassing farmers, destroying farms, and threatening residents.
Law enforcement officials had been attempting to mediate a peaceful resolution to the farmer-herder tensions.
Proofreading by Samuel Gitonga, copy editor at YEN.com.gh.
Source: YEN.com.gh
