August 07, 2024

Facing land grabs, Ghana's Benimasi-Boadi people cry out for justice

topic:	Indigenous people
tags:	#indigenous lands, #indigenous people, #Ghana, #Africa, #land grabs
located:	Ghana
by:	Nana Kwesi Osei Bonsu

The views expressed in the article belong to the author and do not necessarily represent the position of FairPlanet.

As we commemorate the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples, a somber truth casts a shadow over our celebrations. In the heart of Ghana, the voices of my people, the Indigenous People of Benimasi-Boadi near Kumasi, resonate through our ancestral lands, serving as a poignant reminder of the ongoing theft of our heritage.

Hailing from the revered grounds of the ancient Ashanti Empire, we, the Indigenous People of Benimasi-Boadi, carry the sacred lineage of King Osei Tutu I, the empire's founder. Our roots, deeply entwined with the matrilineal tapestry of history, stem from a royal grant bestowed upon Queen Huahi Achama Tutuwaa, the esteemed consort of our ancestor. Their cherished offspring, Oheneba Konadu Afia-Ofi, became the progenitor of our Indigenous community.

These ancestral lands, the eternal resting place of our revered maternal ancestor, Queen Tutuwaa, have been lovingly nurtured through generations and are currently under the stewardship of Odeneho Odishie Kwabena Badu. Yet, a cruel irony shadows this sacred heritage. Our community, once entrusted with safeguarding our cultural and exotic birthright, now faces relentless disparagement, persecution and criminalisation.

Torture, arrest and abductions 

The powerful Asantehene, revered as the traditional ruler of the Ashanti people, wields immense influence in the region, and allegations of his abuse of power in land disputes have cast a dark cloud over his legacy. His actions, including the alleged seizure of our ancestral lands, stand in stark contrast to the provisions of Ghana's Land Act 2020 (Act 1036), which aims to protect the rights of all landholders, including Indigenous communities.

In a chilling act of brutality, Odeneho was abducted by the police and subjected to unimaginable humiliation and torture within the very walls of the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi, the seat of the Asantehene's power. 

This grotesque display of power sent shockwaves through the community and beyond. I, Nana Osei Bonsu, an Indigenous youth leader and voice of the Benimasi-Boadi, was arbitrarily arrested and subjected to six days of agonising torture in police custody, further highlighting the allegations of human rights abuses perpetrated under the Asantehene's watch.

To add to the mounting concerns, a Land Administration officer, who had been advocating for the implementation of Land Act 2020 (Act 1036) in the Ashanti Region, using our ancestral lands as a case study, disappeared under mysterious circumstances just four days after speaking out.

© Land Right Defenders

We, the people of Benimasi-Boadi have been subjected to intimidation, harassment, criminalsation and violence simply for defending our birthright. We have been driven from our homes, our voices silenced, and our rights trampled upon.

In the face of this injustice, the Ghanaian government remains silent, its inaction a betrayal of the fundamental rights of its own citizens. This silence is not just a failure of leadership; it is a complicity in the ongoing theft of Indigenous lands and the alleged abuses perpetrated under the Asantehene's influence.

Reclaiming a stolen heritage 

But amidst this despair, a glimmer of hope remains. We, the Indigenous People of Benimasi-Boadi, refuse to be silenced. We are fighting back, demanding justice, and reclaiming our stolen heritage.

I, Nana Osei Bonsu, was forced to flee Ghana in 2023, and sought refuge under the United Nations Convention Against Torture. My crime? Defending the land entrusted to me by my ancestors.

My story is not just a personal struggle; it is a symbol of the resilience and determination of Indigenous communities worldwide. It is a testament to the unwavering spirit of those who refuse to be erased from history.

© Land Right Defenders

As we commemorate the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples, let us remember the Benimasi-Boadi people and our ongoing fight for justice. Let us amplify our voices, demand accountability from those in power, and work tirelessly to ensure that our lands, our heritage, and our dignity are restored.

The fate of the Benimasi-Boadi people is intertwined with everyone else's. Our struggle for land rights is a struggle for the soul of our humanity, a fight for the preservation of our planet's rich tapestry of life. Let us rise to the occasion, for in our triumph, we all triumph.

Nana Kwesi Osei Bonsu is the founder of Land Rights Defenders, a nonprofit organisation focused on raising awareness and resources for Indigenous communities fighting for their rights to their land. 

Header image by Luis Quinteros.