Wildlife guard shot dead during Kakum patrol

A wildlife guard, Richard Otwey, was fatally shot during a routine patrol in Kakum Forest Reserve on August 22, 2026, according to the Central North Police Command. Otwey, 58, was part of a team of three guards from the Kakum Wildlife Division of the Forestry Commission when the incident occurred. The patrol team encountered two men, Bukari Abudu and John Mensah, allegedly involved in illegal hunting inside the protected forest.

In an attempt to apprehend the men, Abudu allegedly fired a single-barrel gun, hitting Otwey in the chest. Otwey died at the scene. Following the shooting, the patrol team pursued the suspects, capturing Mensah, who is now assisting with the investigation. Abudu fled into the forest and remains at large. Police and forestry authorities are intensifying efforts to locate him.

A spent cartridge, footprints, and the single-barrel firearm used in the attack were recovered at the scene, located about 60 meters from the reserve boundary under a wawa tree. The Central North Regional Crime Officer confirmed the incident but refrained from providing further details due to the ongoing investigation. The police have appealed for public assistance in locating Abudu.

Otwey's body has been taken to the Abura Dunkwa Government Hospital Mortuary for preservation and post-mortem examination. The incident has highlighted the dangers faced by those patrolling Ghana's forest reserves, particularly in areas where illegal hunting and other threats continue.