A wildlife resource guard has been shot and killed by suspected poachers at the Kalakpa Resource Reserve in Abutia, within the Ho West District of the Volta Region.
The deceased, Mr. Raphael Ganyo, was a Resource Guard with the Wildlife Division of the Forestry Commission stationed at the reserve.
The incident occurred in the early hours of Tuesday, January 6, 2026, during a routine patrol near Zitoe Camp, a section of the protected area.
According to reports, at about 6:00 a.m., a patrol team moved in to investigate suspected poaching activity within the reserve. During the operation, the team reportedly encountered an armed individual who was hiding in thick vegetation.
In the ensuing confrontation, Mr. Ganyo was shot in the chest by the suspected poacher and died instantly at the scene.
A follow-up by the Ghana News Agency indicates that no arrests have been made so far, but investigations into the killing have begun.
Confirming the incident, the Public Relations Officer of the Volta Regional Police Command, Chief Inspector Francis Gomado, said police are aware of the case but declined further comment.
“The Police can confirm the killing, but we cannot comment further as investigations are ongoing,” he stated.
Meanwhile, conservation stakeholders and residents of the Abutia enclave have appealed to the Ghana Police Service to conduct swift and thorough investigations to ensure the perpetrators are arrested and brought to justice.
The killing has reignited concerns about the safety of wildlife officers and the growing threat posed by armed poachers in protected forest reserves.
By paqmediagh
