The Asante Akyem North Municipal Security Council (MUSEC) has intervened to prevent a potential conflict between guards of the Forestry Commission and farmers after large plantain farms were destroyed at Abrewapong, a farming community in the Asante Akyem North Municipality.
The affected farmers expressed outrage over the destruction of their plantain farms, which are located within the Juaso Forest Reserve.
Part of this reserve had been allocated to a private developer for an afforestation project.
The Forestry Commission explained that the private developer, Eco Planet, had an agreement with the Abrewapong community allowing farmers to plant food crops alongside the ongoing afforestation project.
The company is planting indigenous species, with a greater percentage of bamboo plantations.
However, the Forestry Commission claimed some farmers damaged the seedlings planted by the company, leading to the destruction of plantain farms in certain areas.
The affected farmers are concerned that the development threatens their livelihoods and may force them out of farming.
In response to the rising tension, the Asante Akyem North Municipal Security Council met with the leadership of the farmers, the Forestry Commission, and the private developer.
The council called for an immediate halt to the further destruction of the plantain farms.
Municipal Chief Executive for Asante Akyem North, Francis Oti Boateng, is urging the farmers to remain calm and assured of efforts to resolve the situation peacefully.
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