Nine farmers in the Bibiani-Anhwiaso-Bekwai District have been arrested for illegally farming in the Tano Suraw Forest Reserve.
Large swathes of cocoa and food crop farms they had cultivated were destroyed by a combined team of military and police personnel, led by
officials of the Forest Services Division (FSD) of the Forestry Commission.
The offending farmers included Osei Kwame, Emmanuel Adjetey, Richard Ayittey, John Opoku, Abugri Aladarko, Dauda Janrow, Isaac Manu, Kwadwo Gyau and Abdul Salem.
They claimed they were granted permission to farm in the reserve after they had paid various sums of money to the Chief of Aboduabo ranging from GH�6,000.00 to GH�10,000.00.
The District Manager of the FSD, Mr Gabriel Nsoh Ade Agana said the farmers would be prosecuted.
It is an offence under the Forest Protection Decree 1974 (NRCD 243) and the Forest Amendment Act 2002 (Act 624) to farm in a forest reserve without the permission of the Forestry Commission.