Wildlife guard killed by suspected poacher at Kakum Forest Reserve
A 58-year-old Wildlife Resource Guard, Richard Otwey, has been shot dead by a suspected poacher during a patrol operation at the Kakum Forest Reserve in the Assin South District of the Central Region. The deceased, who was attached to the Kakum Wildlife Division of the Forestry Commission, was on patrol with two other forestry guards […]
A 58-year-old wildlife resource guard, Richard Otwey, was fatally shot by a suspected poacher while performing his duties at Kakum Forest Reserve in the Assin South District of the Central Region. Otwey, who was part of the Kakum Wildlife Division at the Forestry Commission, was on patrol with two other forestry guards when they encountered two men hunting within the protected forest. The incident took place on Saturday, August 22, 2026, at the Assin Kruwa section of the reserve.
Police were alerted about the shooting around 8:25 a.m. and swiftly arrived at the scene, along with officials from the Forestry Commission’s Wildlife Division. Upon their arrival, they discovered Otwey's body lying beneath a wawa tree, approximately 60 meters from the reserve's boundary, with a gunshot wound to the chest. A search of the area revealed a spent cartridge, footprints, and a single-barrel gun, which were preserved as evidence.
Initial police inquiries suggest that the forestry guards attempted to arrest the two men, Bukari Abudu and John Mensah, who were found hunting in the reserve without proper authorization. According to the reports, Abudu pulled out a single-barrel gun and shot Otwey, causing instant death. The suspects allegedly fled into the forest, but the patrol team continued the pursuit and successfully arrested John Mensah. Bukari Abudu, however, remains at large, and police efforts are ongoing to apprehend him.
The deceased's body was later transferred to the Abura Dunkwa Government Hospital's morgue for further examination and preservation. The Central North Regional Crime Officer, Chief Superintendent Edmund Agyemang Badu, confirmed the incident and stated that the arrested suspect has been detained to aid in the investigation. "The Police can confirm the killing, but we cannot comment further as investigations are ongoing," said Chief Superintendent Agyemang Badu.
As such, the police are appealing to the public for any information that may help locate and apprehend the fleeing suspect.
Written by urgent.news from GBC Ghana's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
