Five caught for operating illegally in forest reserve

Nkawie (Ash), Feb 20, – Five illegal chainsaw operators caught cutting down timber right inside the Tano-Offin Forest Reserve in the Nkawie Forest District have been detained by the police.

Their names were given as Kofi Owusu, alias “Juve”, Kwabena Obeng, alias “TT”, Yaw Ofori, Kojo Yeboah, alias ‘Nyinahin Tiger” and Yaw Boamah.

A locally-made pistol, cutlasses and knives were seized from them. Nana Poku Bosompem, the District Manager of the Forest Services Division (FSD) of the Forestry Commission (FC), confirmed this to journalists at Nkawie. 

He said they were apprehended by forest guards, who were on patrol duties in the reserve. 

He described the rate of destruction of the reserve through illegal chainsaw operations as alarming and called for strong support from the people in the forest fringe communities to help rein the offenders. 

The plunder would have to end, it should not be allowed to continue. 

GNA