Some farmers, mostly from Apoli Zevor in the Akyemmansa District, have destroyed several hectares of the Birim Forest Reserve and planted cocoa and other food crops in it. This came out when Mr Wilson Asare, the Akyem Oda District Forestry Manager, led a combined team of military personnel, the police and forest guards to destroy some of the illegal farms. He told the GNA that following the continuous encroachment on the reserve he held meetings with the farmers to educate them on the negative repercussions of their activities but all to no avail. Mr Asare said in 2008, the District Police Commander including himself held a meeting with the chiefs and representatives of the farmers where the laws on forest protection were read to them. He said at the meeting it was made clear to them that if they should continue to farm in the reserve all their farms would be destroyed but they refused to heed to advice. "When I realized that the farmers were still adamant I even organized a meeting with them in the forest and educated them why there was the need to protect the forest but all fell on deaf ears". Mr Asare said the destroyed farms would later be planted with suitable forest trees to help protect the ecology. The team arrested nine farmers in the reserve and took them to the Akyem Swedru Police Station for charges to be preferred against them. They were George Dogbe, Yayra Bomedi, Peter Godogbe, Mensah Vincent, Francis Godogbe, Eric Godogbe, Dziwornu Mensah, Domenyo Bonuedi and Mawunyo Ahorsu. The nine were among a group of farmers who earlier wore red arm bands, armed themselves with single barrel guns and cutlasses ready to do "battle" with the forest guards. But realising that the guards were accompanied by the military and police they took to their heels and swam across the Birim River to their town, Apoli Zevor. Those arrested told the GNA that even though they were aware that their activities were illegal, they had no choice as a result of their inability to acquire alternative farm lands. 23 Sept 09 Source: GNA/Ghana