Omanghana
A wildlife resource guard attached to the Forestry Commission has been shot and killed during a routine anti-poaching patrol in the Kakum Forest Reserve in Ghana’s Central Region.
The deceased has been identified as 58-year-old Richard Otwey, an officer with the Kakum Wildlife Division.
The incident occurred on Saturday, August 22, 2026, in the Assin Kruwa section of the reserve in the Assin South District.
Patrol Team Encounters Suspected Illegal Hunters
According to preliminary police investigations, Otwey was patrolling the protected forest with two other guards when they encountered two men allegedly hunting without authorization.
The guards reportedly attempted to arrest the pair, who have been identified by police as Bukari Abudu and John Mensah.
During the confrontation, Abudu allegedly pulled out a single-barrel gun and fired at the patrol team. Otwey was struck in the chest and died at the scene.
The two suspects reportedly fled into the forest immediately after the shooting.
One Suspect Arrested, Alleged Shooter on the Run
The surviving members of the patrol team pursued the suspects and succeeded in apprehending John Mensah.
He was handed over to the police and detained to assist with the ongoing investigation. Bukari Abudu, the man suspected of firing the fatal shot, remained at large as of the latest police update.
Security personnel and Forestry Commission officials have intensified efforts to locate and arrest him.
The Central North Regional Crime Officer, Chief Superintendent Edmund Agyemang Badu, confirmed the killing but said police could not disclose further details while investigations were underway.
Gun and Spent Cartridge Recovered
Police reportedly received information about the shooting at approximately 8:25 a.m. and travelled to the scene with officials from the Wildlife Division.
Otwey’s body was found beneath a wawa tree approximately 60 metres from the reserve’s boundary.
Investigators recovered a spent cartridge, footprints and a single-barrel firearm believed to be connected to the shooting. The items have been preserved as exhibits for further examination.
The officer’s body was subsequently transported to the Abura Dunkwa Government Hospital mortuary for preservation and a post-mortem examination.
Killing Highlights Dangers Faced by Wildlife Rangers
The fatal shooting has renewed attention on the dangers faced by wildlife officers responsible for protecting Ghana’s forest reserves.
Rangers operating in protected areas regularly confront suspected poachers, illegal chainsaw operators and encroachers. Some offenders enter forests with firearms, exposing patrol teams to potentially deadly confrontations.
A 2026 study examining poaching trends in the Kakum Conservation Area found that illegal hunting activities remained present despite years of enforcement. Indicators recorded during ranger patrols included gunshots, spent cartridges, traps, footprints and poachers’ paths.
The research recommended consistent patrol funding, stronger community involvement, improved technology and adaptive enforcement strategies to protect the reserve.
Kakum Remains an Important Conservation Area
The Kakum Conservation Area includes Kakum National Park and the adjoining Assin Attandanso Resource Reserve.
Its tropical forest provides habitat for forest elephants, primates, antelopes and numerous bird species. The area is also one of Ghana’s leading ecotourism destinations, internationally recognized for its canopy walkway.
Otwey’s death has reinforced calls for better protective equipment, communication systems, surveillance technology and rapid armed support for rangers deployed to high-risk areas.
Police have appealed for information that could lead to the arrest of the alleged shooter as investigations continue.
Source: Omanghana
