DEEP INSIDE the Bawku West district of the Upper East region lays a dry and almost bare land.
This land surrounds the residents and local houses that make up the Googo community.
The Googo community, in so many years past, had many trees that provided shade and other benefits that come from trees.
In recent times however, the community can only boast of a hand-full of trees.
Their continuous survival on the soils of Googo will depend largely on decision of the people of the area. The felling of trees at Googo is not for the purpose of producing charcoal or fire wood, nor for construction, but to stop the trees from attacking residents at night.
Inhabitants of Googo have declared war on the trees in the area, which they say have been turning into human beings at night to attack people who walk around at night.
Some victims, including Atampugri Akugri, told journalists who visited the area that stories about the trees were true.
He told journalists that one night, on his way to visit his brother, he was attacked by one of the trees which had transformed into a human being, adding that it was then he believed what people had been saying about the trees.
According to Atampugri Akugri, the tree followed him to his house and even when he entered his room, the “human-tree” tried entering his room.
“It will be very difficult for people to believe this, but just believe what am saying, it is real. They transform into humans and either beat you up, struggle with you for your belongings and even fight with those who are strong enough to match them,” Atampugri narrated.
Trees that have allegedly had midnight encounters with residents are burnt or felled as punishment for their evil deeds, and that is how come the area is fast becoming bare.
The chief of Googo, Naba Akpaam Abugri, is worried about the situation.
He believes what the people say about the trees, but then he is not in support of the fact that they are felled or burnt. He has been meeting with his community members to deliberate on how to tackle the problem without destroying the vegetation of the area.
A woman who claimed to be a victim of such attacks told the chief and a group of people at one of the community meetings that one of the trees tied her up on her farm when she dozed off.
Despite the belief of the people, Naba Akpaam Abugri is not enthused about their stance and has warned them to desist from felling or burning the trees, or else face serious punishment. According to him, it might be some evil spirits that attacked them in the night and not the trees.
“Let’s not forget that when the last tree dies, the last man dies. We need the trees; we only have to find ways of ensuring the spirits that cause the trees to turn into humans are exorcized,” the chief told his people.
Naba Akpaam Abugri therefore suggested that if any tree would be burnt or felled for possessing an evil spirit, the accusers should ensure that they planted ten new ones to replace the evil tree.
There is a tree in the Googo Community which was not planted by anyone. According to residents, they woke up one day and saw it standing.
Community members said people who had sat under the tree either went mad or became deaf.
DAILY GUIDE will follow up on the story of the history of the area and the future plans of the chief and people of the area.