Mr Francis Dusey, Ho West District Chief Executive (DCE), has called for collective action to protect the Kalakpe Game Reserve following the death of a staff member during an anti-poaching operation.
Mr Dusey made the call when he led members of the District Security Committee (DISEC) and Assembly Members on January 12 to commiserate with staff of the Kalakpe Game Reserve at Abutia Kloe.
The visit followed the killing of a reserve officer, allegedly by illegal hunters, during an operation within the protected area.
Mr Dusey described the incident as tragic and unacceptable, stressing that attacks on game reserves by poachers and illegal chainsaw operators posed serious threats to development and survival.
“When game reserves are attacked, the damage goes beyond animals and trees; it threatens our survival in terms of development,” he said.
He explained that the reserve provided habitat for antelopes, monkeys, birds, and other endangered species, warning that indiscriminate hunting was collapsing ecosystems.
Mr Dusey noted that trees in the reserve helped regulate rainfall, reduce heat, and prevent erosion, adding that deforestation had significantly altered rainfall patterns in the area.
“Do you see how rainfall has changed drastically? The rains no longer come as usual because the trees are gone,” he stated.
He alleged that illegal chainsaw operators often worked at night, between midnight and dawn, using vehicles to transport lumber quickly.
The DCE appealed to security agencies to assist in apprehending suspected collaborators in nearby communities, pledging to submit names to the appropriate authorities.
He called on chiefs, elders, and residents of the Abutia and Adaklu Traditional Areas to work together to protect the reserve from encroachment.
Mr Dusey urged the government to strengthen logistics for rangers, proposing a joint delegation to Accra to appeal for additional vehicles and firearms.
“One vehicle and a few rifles cannot do the job if we really mean business,” he stressed.
He cautioned officers against conniving with poachers, urging professionalism and integrity to restore public confidence.
Mr John Parker Atingah, Park Manager, said the incident was not the first of its kind and noted that staff were traumatised by the loss of their colleague.
He said some arrests had been made, investigations were ongoing, and disciplinary actions had previously been taken against errant staff.
DSP Rockson Gyasi, Ho West District Police Commander, described the incident as unfortunate and assured that investigations were progressing steadily.
“We are heading in a positive direction, but we need information shared through the proper channels,” he advised.
Deputy Commissioner Smart Osei Bonsu of the Ghana Immigration Service, Kpedze Sector, expressed condolences to the bereaved family and staff and urged routine in-service training to enhance ranger safety.
He advised officers to adopt strategic approaches when confronting poachers, stressing that their lives were valuable to the State.
