In a significant victory for wildlife conservation, five resource guards of the Ankasa Conservation Area, stationed at the Dadwen Range Camp in the Ellembelle District, tactically apprehended three notorious poachers who were illegally hunting in the Ayensu beat of the forest. The arrest, which took place on July 9, 2025, during routine surveillance operations, underscores the park’s intensified efforts to curb poaching and other illegal activities.
The poachers were identified as Frank Odame, 36, from Assin Manso in the Central Region; Abraham Kwasi Sikapa, 45, from Yilo Krobo in the Eastern Region; and George Avi, 48, from Akatsi in the Volta Region. All three men reside in Mumuni within the Ellembelle District and are reportedly cocoa farmers.
During the arrest, the patrol team retrieved three unlicensed locally manufactured shotguns, 18 live cartridges, seven flashlights, and three cutlasses, believed to have been used in the hunting of wildlife. The team also discovered the carcasses of one Bay Duiker, one Maxwell’s Duiker, and five giant rats. The killing of these species, particularly the duikers which are integral to forest ecosystems, raises serious concerns about the impact of illegal hunting on biodiversity in protected areas such as the Ankasa Conservation Area.
Upon their arrest, the suspects attempted to bribe the patrol team with GHC7,000 to avoid prosecution. However, the officers rejected the offer and proceeded to file a formal report, demonstrating integrity and a strong commitment to enforcing conservation laws.
The management of the park has since handed over all confiscated items, including the attempted bribe, and the three suspects to the Elubo Police Station, where investigations and prosecution are currently underway. This case is expected to serve as a precedent for future enforcement actions under the Wildlife Resources Management Act (Act 1115).
Speaking on the development, the Park Manager of the Ankasa Conservation Area, Mr. Bona Kyiire, issued a stern warning to would-be offenders, stressing that park staff are prepared to defend the integrity of the protected area against any form of environmental crime. He emphasized the immense value and ecological services provided by the Ankasa Conservation Area, which stands as Ghana’s only wet evergreen rainforest managed by the Wildlife Division of the Forestry Commission.
He also appealed to all stakeholders to support efforts aimed at preserving this unique landscape so that it becomes a center of excellence for rainforest management within the sub-region.
The Ankasa Conservation Area covers approximately 509 square kilometers and consists of the twin reserves of Nini Suhien National Park and the Ankasa Resource Reserve. Situated in Ghana’s wet evergreen tropical high forest zone, the area is considered the most biodiverse protected region in the country. It harbors a wide array of endemic and threatened flora and fauna, including forest elephants, bongos, and most of Ghana’s primate species. Notably, the park was the first in Ghana to pilot the Community Resource Management Area (CREMA) concept through the establishment of the Amokwaw CREMA and holds significant potential for eco-tourism, which could benefit nearby municipalities, district assemblies, and the nation at large.
