Poacher Remanded Over Killing Of Wildlife Guard At Kakum National Park.

A 54-year-old man, John Mensah, has been remanded into police custody by the Nyankumasi Ahenkro District Court over unlawful entry into a protected forest area and the killing of Senior Forest Guard Richard Otwey at the Kakum National Park.

Mensah is facing two charges: unlawful entry into a protected forest area and murder. His plea was not taken when he appeared before the court.

The prosecution told the court that investigations were ongoing and prayed for the accused to be remanded into police custody to assist with the investigations.

The court, presided over by His Worship Peter Anongdare Esq., granted the request and remanded Mensah for two weeks. He is expected to reappear on September 11, 2026.

According to a statement issued today August 25, by the Forestry Commission, the incident occurred during a routine forest protection and anti-poaching patrol at the Kakum National Park.

The patrol team detected an active poachers’ path at about 6:00 p.m. on Friday, August 21, 2026, and established an ambush after hearing gunshots in the area.

At about 5:15 a.m. the following day, the team spotted two torchlights approaching their position and prepared to apprehend the suspected poachers.

The suspects fled in different directions after the patrol team ordered them to surrender.

The Forestry Commission said one of the suspects dropped a sack he was carrying, turned around and fired at Mr. Otwey, who was closely behind him, killing him on the spot.

The second suspect was subsequently apprehended and identified as John Mensah, a resident of Assin Betwease in the Assin South District of the Central Region.

During interrogation, John Mensah identified the shooter as Bukari Abudu, also a resident of Assin Betwease.

Abudu remains at large, with the Ghana Police Service and the Forestry Commission pursuing efforts to arrest him.

A search of the area following the incident led to the recovery of two single-barrel shotguns believed to have been used by the suspects, as well as several animal carcasses believed to have been hunted.

The recovered carcasses included five brush-tailed porcupines, two African giant rats, one Maxwell duiker, one snail, two Mona monkeys and one olive colobus monkey.

Other items recovered from the area were a cooking pot, two sachets of tomato paste, a water bottle and two machetes.

The incident was subsequently reported to the Nyankumasi Police, who, together with the Park Manager and other Forestry Commission officials, proceeded into the forest to retrieve Mr. Otwey’s body.

His remains were conveyed to the Abura Dunkwa Government Hospital mortuary, where they are being kept pending autopsy and further investigations.

Story by: Kwame Owusu Asante Shadrack, Rich FM, Assin Fosu.