Government must draw a ranching policy for Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to deal with the herdsmen menace bedeviling the country.

Former President John Kufour believes the move is necessary not only to safeguard farmlands but also to ensure peaceful coexistence of herdsmen and locals.

The herdsmen menace is one that many say threatens the country’s food security as farm lands are being destroyed by cattle.

“From time immemorial, the sub-region has lived with these people peacefully but now with overpopulation and with farmers wanting to modernize their farms, it has become challenging,” said Kufuor.

For him, if a proper ranching structure is established, government can derive some revenue to support the operations of MMDAs.

“When the herdsmen are forced by climate change to come here, they know where to go to. There should be law enforcement so that they can be prosecuted when they violate the law.”

On his part, former UK Scientific Advisor and the World Food Program Representative for Ghana Sir John Beddington said the Global Panel on Agriculture and Food Systems and nutrition will keenly look into the development this year.

He made this known at an event recently organised by the JAK foundation on Ghana’s Nutrition System and Food Security in Accra.

 

Source: Ghana/Starrfmonline.com/103.5FM/Osei Owusu Amankwaah