A 58-year-old Wildlife Resource Officer, Richard Otwey, has been killed after being shot by a suspected illegal hunter during a routine monitoring operation in the Kakum Forest Reserve, situated within the Assin South District of the Central Region.
The deceased officer, who served under the Kakum Wildlife Division of the Forestry Commission, was conducting a patrol alongside two colleagues when they came across two individuals carrying out unauthorized hunting deep within the protected forest enclave.
The fatal clash occurred on Saturday, August 22, 2026, around the Assin Kruwa sector of the sanctuary.
Law enforcement authorities were alerted to the shooting at approximately 8:25 a.m. and immediately dispatched a team together with officials from the Forestry Commission’s Wildlife Division to the location.
Upon reaching the scene, officers discovered Mr Otwey’s lifeless body lying beneath a wawa tree—about 60 metres from the reserve’s perimeter line—bearing a severe bullet entry mark to the chest.
A forensic sweep of the surrounding area led to the retrieval of a discharged cartridge, distinct footprints, and a single-barrelled shotgun, all of which have been retained as evidence.
Initial police findings suggest that the patrol team moved to apprehend the suspects, named as Bukari Abudu and John Mensah, after catching them hunting unlawfully inside the reserve.
During the confrontation, Bukari Abudu allegedly produced a single-barrelled gun and discharged a shot directly at Mr Otwey, killing him on the spot.
Both suspects fled into the thick canopy, prompting the remaining officers to give chase, which resulted in the apprehension of John Mensah.
Bukari Abudu remains at large, with security agencies launching a manhunt to track down his whereabouts.
The body of the deceased officer has since been transferred to the Abura Dunkwa Government Hospital mortuary for preservation and an autopsy.
