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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: unauthorised 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 prohibit unlawful access, the 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 Reserve.
Upon his arrest, officers retrieved a shotgun, five live cartridges, and a cutlass. A further search confirmed that he had hunted two Maxwell’s duikers and four giant rats within the protected forest.
Following the arrest, the Wildlife Division of the Forestry Commission reiterated 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.
Source: 3News