Some encroachers have turned the forest reserve around the Barekese Dam into cemetery causing fear and panic among residents in the area.

A visit to the area by OTEC News reporter Jacob Agyenim Boateng to the dam, located at Barekese in the Atwima Nwabiagya North District of the Ashanti Region, indicates that, some dead bodies have been buried few meters away from the dam

The Assembly Member for Asenie-Marban Electoral Area, Hon. Adusei Ernest in an interview with OTEC News reporter Jacob Agyenim Boateng on Saturday November 25, 20203 said encroachment on the buffer zone of the Barekese Dam was at an alarming stage as trees planted to serve as cover and protect the dam from shrinking have been cut down by farmers, exposing the reservoir to evaporation.

He noted that some experts have on countless occasions warned that, the situation could cause severe water shortage and other pipe born diseases in parts of the Ashanti region but nothing has been done about it.

“The Barekese Dam built on the Offin River in June 1969 was to serve as a water treatment plant to provide portable water for the people of Kumasi and its environs”.

” It also supplies about 80 percent portable water to the city but some known and unknown individuals have taken over the forest reserve around the dam turning it into cemetery and cultivating crops like maize, cassava and other foodstuff.”

He revealed that, over 15 bodies have been buried near the dam, adding that the situation could be worse if authorities in the region to fail to act accordingly.

Hon Adusei Ernest disclosed that, he has informed the District Chief Executive Officer (DCE) of the area, Hon Rebecca Yeboah yet nothing has been done to curb the situation.

The Chief of Barekese Nana OKOFO AMOAPEM BRENYA I however accused Nana Asuofua Anwomahene of burying his royals on the dams buffer zone.

He noted that, all efforts to halt the chief from buying dead bodies on the land have proven futile, adding that he has  moved to inform the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II in order for to get proper solution to the matter.

Responding to the accusations, the Anwomahene Nana Fiebonasi II siad it was not entirely true that he had been burying dead bodies.

He noted that, he called on the district chief executive in the area for support after discovering that some individuals were engaging in chainsaw activities and burying of dead bodies on the land but received not support to stop the problem.

He added that, he stopped going to the area after some chainsaw operators threatened to shoot him, given room for some unscrupulous individuals to do whatever they want on the land

Source: Ghana/otecdfmghana.com/