The youth of Sefwi had given strong backing to the decision by the Forestry Commission (FC) to destroy illegal farms in the Anhwiaso East Forest Reserve.
Their position sharply contrasts that of the Sefwi-Anhwiaso Traditional Council, which has protested the measure.
Speaking to the Ghana News Agency after a meeting in Bibiani, Mr Ernest Yaw Gyening, leader of the group calling itself "Sefwi Concerned Youth Association," said they were happy that about 280 hectares of the degraded reserve had
already been put under a plantation development programme.
This, they said, was helping to create jobs, particularly for the youth in the forest fringe communities.
These include the unemployed youth at Manse, Bayerebon Number Two, Bethlehem, Amokaka, Mmerewa, Mpesiem and Nkronua.
Mr Gyening said every support should be given to the Forest Service Division (FSD) in the district to sustain the plantation development programme to restore the destroyed reserve.
He appealed to the Traditional Council to review its position and throw its weight behind the programme.