The prime suspect in the murder of Raphael Ganyo, a resource guard at the Kalakpa Resource Reserve, has allegedly committed suicide by hanging while in police custody at the Anyirawase Police Station.
The suspect, Agbey Avi, a hunter and known repeat poacher at the reserve, was found dead in the inner cell where he was being held. He allegedly used the blanket provided for sleeping to strap his neck to a metal bar around the cell window, days after his arrest.
Agbey Avi had previously served multiple prison terms for poaching in the Kalakpa Resource Reserve. He had also paid fines and signed a bond pledging never to enter the reserve again.
The Park Manager of the Kalakpa Resource Reserve, John Parker Atingah, said the suspect was arrested on Friday, January 9, through a joint operation involving reserve guards, the Police, and community members, following the murder of Mr Ganyo in the early hours of January 6.
According to Mr Atingah, the deceased guard was part of a patrol team responding to suspected poaching activities near the Zitoe Camp area of the reserve when he was shot in the left chest and pronounced dead at the scene. His body was later deposited at the Ho Teaching Hospital morgue.
“It was pure murder,” Mr Atingah stated.
“We had several suspects in mind and narrowed it down to one key suspect, Agbey Avi. We continued monitoring and surveillance, and on Friday, we received information that he was attempting to flee. Through collaboration with my men, the Anyirawase Police, and community members, he was arrested,” he added.
A Police source confirmed the alleged suicide to the Ghana News Agency (GNA), though full details were not immediately available.
Reacting to the development, a resident of Abutia-Kloe, the headquarters of the Kalakpa Resource Reserve, Mr Kudzo Gotu, described the incident as tragic. He said the slain guard, who hailed from the Mafi area in Central Tongu and had no children, did not deserve such a fate.
“Some souls are not meant to be taken,” he remarked.
Another resident, Da Mawunyo, described both deaths as pathetic, noting that the deceased suspect was a habitual poacher from a neighbouring community who had endured several personal tragedies.
“Agbey could not attend his own mother’s funeral because he was incarcerated for poaching at the time. His younger brother has also died and is yet to be buried. Both bodies are currently at the morgue,” he said.
Briefing the Ghana News Agency, the District Chief Executive for Ho West and Chairman of the District Security Council (DISEC), Mr Francis Dusey, said the arrest of the suspect was the result of intense collaboration among security agencies and community members.
He explained that Ghanaian law places a responsibility on citizens to protect natural resources, but some individuals continue to exploit forest reserves illegally, sometimes with deadly consequences.
“The police investigations revealed that the suspect admitted to opening fire on the Forestry Commission guard. His confession was recorded on audio,” Mr Dusey disclosed.
However, he said that in the early hours of Tuesday, officers discovered that the suspect had taken his own life in the cell while preparations were underway for his prosecution.
“He allegedly tore the blanket provided to him with his teeth and used it to hang himself,” the DISEC Chairman said.
Mr Dusey added that the suspect had been held alone in a separate cell to facilitate investigations and that the Police would fully brief DISEC on the circumstances surrounding the death.
He said the family of the slain Forestry Commission guard had been informed, while management awaited directives from headquarters on the next steps.
The DISEC Chairman warned residents and settlers encroaching on the Kalakpa Resource Reserve to desist from illegal activities, announcing new joint security measures, stakeholder engagements, and renewed calls for increased forest guard personnel to strengthen protection of the reserve.
