Three Suspected Poachers Arrested In Ankasa Conservation Area
Three suspected poachers have been apprehended by resource guards at the Ankasa Conservation Area in the Western Region.
The arrest was made on July 9, 2025, during a routine patrol near the Ayensu beat by personnel from the Dadwen Range Camp in the Ellembelle District.
The suspects have been identified as Frank Odame, 36; Abraham Kwasi Sikapa, 45; and George Avi, 48 — all cocoa farmers from Mumuni.
According to a report by Accra-based Citi News, the suspects were allegedly caught with prohibited items believed to be used in poaching activities.
Items retrieved during the arrest included three locally manufactured shotguns without licenses, 18 rounds of live ammunition, seven flashlights, and three cutlasses. The team also found wildlife remains, including one Bay Duiker, one Maxwell’s Duiker, and five Giant Rats.
The patrol team revealed that the suspects attempted to bribe them with GH₵7,000 to avoid arrest.
However, the guards rejected the offer and handed over the suspects, along with the confiscated items and cash, to the Elubo Police Station.
Investigations are ongoing under the Wildlife Resources Management Act, 2023 (Act 1115), which governs the protection of Ghana’s forest reserves and wildlife.
The Ankasa Conservation Area, encompassing the Nini Suhien National Park and the Ankasa Resource Reserve, spans over 500 square kilometres. It is the only formally managed wet evergreen rainforest in Ghana and serves as a critical habitat for endangered species. The area also includes the Amokwaw CREMA and holds significant ecotourism potential.
Source: Adomonline.com
