Goaso B/A), June 8, GNA - A combined team of military personnel and forestry officials have destroyed about 1,000 hectares of cocoa and other farm produce that were illegally cultivated in the Krokosua Forest Reserve at Juabeso in the Western Region.

The operation that lasted six days was under the auspices of Juabeso District Forestry and the Western Regional Forestry Division. Briefing Ghana News Agency at Goaso, Mr. Clement Amo Omane Juabeso District Forestry Manager, said that the team would continue the exercise until all illegal farms in the reserve were destroyed. He said that barely two years ago some communities in the Sefwi area petitioned the government that portions of their land had been taken over by the District Forestry. Mr. Omane said that the authorities dispatched a technical team to the Sefwi area to assess the situation. He said that after demarcation of boundaries by the team, the Abusuapanin for Bonsan in the area alleged that some settler farmers crossed the demarcation and cultivated crops. Mr. Omane warned settler farmers living along the reserve to desist from the practice or face the law. 8 June 10