The Forestry Commission on Thursday condemned the killing of a wildlife officer who was shot dead while on patrol at the Kalakpa Resource Reserve in the Volta Region, describing the incident as an attack on the country’s conservation efforts.
The officer, Raphael Ganyo, a resource guard with the Wildlife Division, was killed in the early hours of Jan. 6 during an operation to investigate suspected poaching near the Zitoe Camp area of the reserve, the commission said in a statement.
Details
According to the Forestry Commission, a patrol team encountered an armed individual hiding in dense vegetation close to the boundary of the reserve at about 0600 GMT. During the encounter, Ganyo was shot in the chest and died at the scene.
The killing was reported to the Ghana Police Service, which conducted crime scene investigations before transporting the body to the Ho Regional Hospital morgue for an autopsy, the commission said.
Probe
Police have launched a manhunt for the suspected poacher, and the Forestry Commission said it was cooperating fully with investigators to identify and arrest the perpetrator.
Ganyo, who was born on March 15, 1997, hailed from Mafi Kumasi in the Volta Region. He joined the Wildlife Division of the Forestry Commission in November 2021 and served with the Law Enforcement Unit.
“The Forestry Commission extends its deepest condolences to the family, colleagues and loved ones of the deceased,” the statement said, adding that he died in the line of duty while protecting Ghana’s natural resources.
Authorities said further updates would be issued as investigations continue.
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