A 48-year-old rubber tapper has been sentenced to three years imprisonment for poaching in the Ankasa Conservation Area.
Ofori Annor was convicted by the Nkroful District Court after being found guilty on three counts: unauthorized entry into a wildlife protected area, possession of a firearm and ammunition within a protected area, and illegal hunting of wild animals.
The offences contravened Sections 10(1), 11(1)(a), 11(1)(b), 19(4), and 36(1)(b) of the Wildlife Resources Management Act, 2023 (Act 1115), which prohibits unlawful access, carrying of weapons, and hunting in designated conservation zones.
Facts presented before the court revealed that Annor was apprehended by patrol rangers during a routine anti-poaching operation inside the Ankasa Forest reserve.
Upon his arrest, officers retrieved a shotgun, five live cartridges, and a cutlass. A further search confirmed he had hunted two Maxwell’s duikers and four giant rats within the protected forest.
Owing to the arrest, the Wildlife Division of the Forestry Commission is reiterating its commitment to safeguarding Ghana’s biodiversity, stressing that the protection of Ankasa’s unique ecosystem is vital to national heritage, ecological stability, and future generations.
Officials say surveillance and patrols within protected areas will be intensified, alongside stricter prosecution of offenders, as part of ongoing efforts to combat poaching and preserve Ghana’s wildlife resources.
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