Five in court for farming in Forest Reserve

Bibiani (W/R) Jan 16, GNA - Five people have appeared before the Bibiani Circuit Court for farming in the Tano Suraw Forest Reserve at Aboduabo in the Western Region.

It is an offence under the Forest Protection Decree 1974 (NRC 243) and Forest Amendment Act, 2002, (Act 624) to farm in a reserve without the permission of the Forestry Commission. Isaac Obeng Kran, Yaw Dua, Yaw Asante, Kwasi Mpae and Kwadwo Konadu pleaded not guilty and were each admitted to GH¢6,000 bail to re-appear on Friday, January 22.

Police Detective Chief Inspector Alex Asamoah told the court presided over by Mr. Emmanuel Ankamah that the accused had illegally cleared large hectares of the Tano Suraw reserve and planted cocoa, plantain and other food crops.

This was detected by a forest range supervisor, Mr Eric Owusu Addae, when he visited the reserve on September 19, last year. He said the five were arrested on Sunday, January 3, while busily working on the illegal farms, which they claimed ownership.