What happens when months of sweat on the farm disappear in your absence?
That is the painful incident Osei Akwasi brought before the Obra Show on Nhyira FM, simulcast on Adom TV, accusing a landowner of harvesting crops he claims to have cultivated after being forced to leave the farm for a family emergency.
Appearing before host Ohemaa Benewa and the Obra panel, Osei said he feels cheated and humiliated after allegedly losing the fruits of months of hard labour.
According to Osei, he was introduced to a piece of farmland by a man identified as Kofi Asamoah, who connected him to the landowner, James Adu.
Osei said the two reached a mutual understanding: he would cultivate the land, and when the crops matured, the proceeds would be shared between them.
“We agreed that I would work on the land and when the crops were ready, we would share the harvest,” Osei explained.
To show goodwill and confirm the arrangement, Osei said he gave the landlord GH₵1,000.
“I gave him the money to show I was serious and to thank him for giving me the land,” he told the panel.
After that, Osei claims he began cultivating the land and nurturing the crops, investing both time and resources into the farm.
But just as the crops were nearing maturity, tragedy struck his household.
Osei said his son fell seriously ill and had to be rushed to the hospital. The situation became critical, forcing him to remain at the hospital for more than two months.
“My son was admitted and I could not leave him. As a father, I had to stay,” he said.
During that time, Osei said he had no opportunity to return to the farm.
When he finally returned, the crops he had cultivated were gone.
“Everything had been harvested,” he said, shaking his head.
He alleges that the landowner, James Adu, had sent workers to harvest the crops in his absence.
“He told me he had given the farm to someone else to manage,” Osei recounted.
The revelation immediately triggered debate in the studio.
“If a man works on land for months and suddenly has a family emergency, does that mean all his labour should be taken away?” quizzed the host.
Panelist Lady Gold also raised concerns about accountability. “If there was an agreement to share the harvest, how can the crops be harvested without informing the person who planted them?” she questioned.
Meanwhile, Evangelist De Graft Adsai highlighted a common challenge in farming arrangements.
“Many farmers operate on trust without written agreements. When problems arise, it becomes difficult to determine rights and responsibilities,” he said.
Big Mama (Gifty Donkor) expressed sympathy for Osei’s situation.
“Imagine working for months under the sun, only to lose everything because you had to care for your sick child,” she said.
During the adjudication process on the programme, the landlord, James Adu, responded to the allegations and revealed that he had attempted to compensate the farmer.
According to him, he offered Osei Akwasi GH₵3,000 as compensation for the work done on the farm.
“I tried to settle the matter by offering him three thousand cedis so we could end the issue peacefully, but he refused to accept it,” the landlord explained.
Osei Akwasi confirmed the offer was indeed made but strongly rejected it, describing the amount as unfair considering the labour he had invested over the years.
“He opted to pay me off after years of hard labour without even having a proper written agreement between us,” Osei said.
He insisted that since they had originally agreed to share the farm produce, the attempt to compensate him with GH₵3,000 was unacceptable.
“How can you pay three thousand cedis for my hard labour?” he questioned.
Osei further told the panel that in order to resolve the matter once and for all, he is demanding a compensation of GH₵100,000.
“If they want to settle the issue and bring everything to an end, then I need one hundred thousand Ghana cedis as compensation,” he stated.
The case raises troubling questions about land use agreements in many farming communities: Should a landlord be allowed to harvest crops planted by someone else without consultation? Does a temporary absence cancel a farming agreement? And how can farmers protect their labour when agreements are based largely on trust?
For Osei Akwasi, the issue is deeply personal.
“I worked hard on that land,” he told the panel. “All I want is fairness.”
As the discussion drew to a close, the Obra panel members together with host Ohemaa Benewa strongly criticised the landlord’s attempt to settle the matter with GH₵3,000.
The panel described the amount as grossly unfair considering the farmer’s labour and the earlier understanding that the harvest would be shared.
Ohemaa Benewa condemned the offer, stating that it suggested an attempt to take advantage of the farmer’s hard work.
“Offering three thousand cedis after someone has worked on your land for years is unacceptable. It clearly shows an attempt to cheat the farmer,” she stated.
Other panel members also lambasted the landlord and stressed that the farmer deserved a more reasonable compensation that reflects the value of his labour.
The panel therefore urged both parties to reconsider their positions and work toward a fair settlement.
They warned that if a better solution is not reached, the matter will be forwarded to court for legal determination.
The case was subsequently adjourned to allow both parties time to negotiate a possible resolution.
For now, Osei Akwasi says he still hopes justice will prevail.
“I worked hard on that land,” he said. “All I want is fairness.”
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