A 60-year-old farmer who allegedly set fire in the Tano Offin forest reserve, near Nyinahin in the Atwima-Mponua District, has been granted a GHc 60,000.00 bail with three sureties by the Nkawie Circuit Court.

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Yaw Opoku was said to have illegally entered the forest reserve and set the fire which destroyed portions of the forest reserve and tree seedlings under nursery there.

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He pleaded not guilty and would reappear before the court presided by Mr Johnson Abbey on July 19, this year, for trial.

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Detective Chief Inspector Comfort Amankwaa told the court that, the complainant was the Range Manager of the Tano Offin Forest Reserve.

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She said on February 08, this year, the Rapid Response Team got information of a fire outbreak in the reserve and rushed to fight it.

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Chief Inspector Amankwaa said the team met the accused in the forest, arrested, and handed him over to the police.

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She said the accused in his cautioned statement admitted entering the forest reserve to cut canes to weave his basket but denied setting fire to it.

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Source: GNA

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