A 58-year-old Wildlife Resource Guard has been shot dead during a patrol operation at the Kakum Forest Reserve in the Assin South District of the Central Region.

The deceased, Richard Otwey, was part of a three-member patrol team from the Wildlife Division of the Forestry Commission when they reportedly encountered two men suspected to be hunting in the protected area.

The incident occurred on Saturday, August 22, 2026, at the Assin Kruwa section of the reserve.

According to preliminary police investigations, the patrol team attempted to arrest the two men after allegedly finding them hunting without lawful authority.

One of the suspects, identified as Bukari Abudu, is said to have pulled out a single-barrel gun and fired at Otwey, hitting him in the chest.

The gunshot reportedly killed the wildlife guard instantly.

The suspects then fled into the forest as the remaining members of the patrol team pursued them. One of them, identified as John Mensah, was subsequently arrested, while Abudu managed to escape and remains at large.

Police were alerted to the incident at about 8:25 a.m. and later proceeded to the scene together with officials from the Wildlife Division.

Otwey’s body was found lying under a wawa tree, approximately 60 metres from the reserve’s boundary, with a gunshot wound to the chest.

A search of the area led to the recovery of a spent cartridge, footprints and a single-barrel gun, which police have taken as exhibits to aid investigations.

The deceased’s body was conveyed to the morgue of the Abura Dunkwa Government Hospital for preservation and further examination.

The Central North Regional Crime Officer, Chief Superintendent Edmund Agyemang Badu, confirmed the incident and said the arrested suspect was being detained to assist with investigations.

“The Police can confirm the killing, but we cannot comment further as investigations are ongoing,” he said.

Meanwhile, police have launched a manhunt for Bukari Abudu and are appealing to anyone with information on his whereabouts to assist the investigation.