Youth of Yilo, Manya Krobo demonstrate against chiefs

The youth of Yilo Krobo and Lower Manya Krobo in the Eastern Region are demanding for a copy of the Memorandum of Understanding the Krobos signed with the Volta River Authority (VRA) years ago.

The youth who are demonstrating against their Chiefs to drive home their demand say the construction of the Akosombo and Akuse dams has caused great damage to large acres of their farmlands making life unbearable.

They claim the irreversible damages caused by the construction of the dams has brought about economic hardships on the people and they believe the MOU will enable them address the situation which has been compounded by high electricity tariffs.

“The negative impact of the construction of the Akosombo and Akuse Dams which caused great damages to large acres of Krobo Farm Lands which now cannot be cultivated to earn the living”, the statement from the youth of Yilo and Manya Krobo read.

They have also vowed to do anything within their might to suspend the celebration of the Kloyosikplemi and Ngayem Festivals by Somanya and Odumase respectively until their issue is addressed by the Chiefs.

“Failure by the Chiefs of Yilo and Manya Krobo to make available to us copy of the Memorandum of Understanding between VRA and Krobos to enable the Youth resolve the situation of the suffering of the Krobos. The Kloyosikplemi Festival of the Yilo Krobo and Ngayem Festival of Manya Krobo will have to be suspended to make room for the resolving of these hardships of the Krobos”.

They added that “the suspension of the Kloyosikplemi and Ngayem festival stemmed from the fact that as at now the chiefs did not use the taxes levied at the mountain to establish any landmark to appreciate the work of the chiefs in the performance of the festivals. The mountain abode as at now is devoid of any conspicuous landmark or relic worthy of celebration. We deem it as just an occasion to spyhole money for their personal aggrandizement.”

One of the leaders who spoke to Ghanaweb said the Krobo youth are aware of the fact that they are not supposed to pay electricity bills as captured in the memorandum, so they want VRA and the ECG to adhere to the agreement.

Recently, hundreds of the angry residents of Somanya in the Eastern Region, besieged the offices of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) to demonstrate over what they describe as over-billing and destroying properties at the offices.

Ghanaw