Richard Otwey, a 58-year-old Wildlife Guard, has been shot dead by a suspected poacher.
Reports suggest the Wildlife guard was shot during a patrol operation at the Kakum Forest Reserve in the Assin South District of the Central Region.
According to reports, the deceased was attached to the Kakum Wildlife Division of the Forestry Commission.
The incident occurred on Saturday, August 22, 2026, at the Assin Kruwa portion of the reserve after the guard and two colleagues allegedly encountered two men hunting inside the protected forest.
Reports disclosed that the Police received information about the shooting at about 8:25 a.m. and proceeded to the scene with officials of the Forestry Commission’s Wildlife Division.
Richard Otwey’s body was found lying under a wawa tree, about 60 metres from the boundary of the reserve, with a gunshot wound to the chest.
Also, a search of the area led to the recovery of a spent cartridge, footprints and a single-barrel gun, which have been preserved as exhibits.
During the police preliminary enquiries, the forestry guards attempted to arrest the two men, identified as Bukari Abudu and John Mensah, after allegedly finding them hunting in the reserve.
One of the suspects, Bukari Abudu, is said to have pulled out a single-barrel gun and fired at Richard Otwey, killing him instantly and fled into the forest, but the patrol team pursued them and managed to arrest John Mensah.
According to reports, Bukari Abudu remains at large, with police efforts underway to apprehend him.
Meanwhile, the body of the deceased has been subsequently conveyed to the Abura Dunkwa Government Hospital’s morgue for preservation and further examination.
See the post below:
🚨 WILDLIFE GUARD SHOT DEAD DURING KAKUM FOREST PATROL
— GHANA CHRONICLES (@_GhChronicles) August 23, 2026
A wildlife resource guard attached to the Kakum Wildlife Division of the Forestry Commission was reportedly shot dead by a suspected poacher during a patrol in the Assin Kruwa area of the Central Region.
The incident… pic.twitter.com/k2gvxDPL6M
@ghnow_ Funny Face vs Kweku Manu Boxing Match Highlights #GHnow #fyp ♬ original sound – GHnow
@ghnow_ Funny Face Before The Fight 😂😂 and during the fight #GHnow #fyp ♬ original sound – GHnow
