The suspect in the murder of Raphael Ganyo, a resource guard at Kalakpa Resource Reserve, has allegedly committed suicide by hanging, while in Police detention at Anyirawase Police Station.
Agbey Avi, a hunter, who had been a ‘jail bird’ for poaching in the Reserve, leading to serving multiple prison terms and, paying a fine as well as signing a bond never to enter the Reserve, was discovered with the blanket provided him for sleeping in the inner cells, strapping his neck to a metal bar around the window, days after his arrest.
John Parker Atingah, Park Manager, Kalakpa Resource Reserve, indicated that the deceased suspect was arrested on Friday, January 9, through collaborative work of his men, the Police and community members, following the murder of Ganyo in the early hours of January 6.
He said the guard that fateful day was part of a patrol team moving to investigate suspected poaching activities near Zitoe Camp of the Reserve, when he was shot in the left chest and pronounced dead at the scene, with his body deposited at the Ho Teaching Hospital morgue, calling it “pure murder.”
“We had several suspects in mind…, narrowed it to one key suspect, Agbey Avi. We kept monitoring and surveying, and on Friday, we had information that he was trying to escape. Collaboration among my men, the Anyirawase Police and community members led to his arrest,” Mr Atingah said.
A Police source confirmed the suicide by the suspect to GNA, but without the full details.
Mr Kudzo Gotu, a resident of Abutia-Kloe, Headquarters of the Kalakpa Resource Reserve, said the murder of the guard, who had no children and hailed from Mafi area, Central Tongu, and the alleged suicide case confirmed a view he held in life that “Some souls are not meant to be taken.”
Another resident, Da Mawunyo, described the two deaths as pathetic, saying the deceased suspect, who came from a neighbouring community, was a regular poacher who missed the funeral of his own mother due to incarceration.
“Agbey couldn’t see his mother’s body because he was in prison for poaching when her funeral was held. And again, his younger brother died and is yet to be buried before this suicide incident. The two are currently in the morgue.”
Briefing the Ghana News Agency, Mr Francis Dusey, the District Chief Executive of Ho West and Chairman of the District Security Council (DISEC) said the arrest of the suspect followed intense collaborative arrangement.
He explained that Ghana’s laws placed a responsibility on citizens to protect natural resources, but some individuals continued to illegally exploit forests, often with deadly consequences.
“The police conducted investigations, and the suspect admitted opening fire on the Forestry Commission guard. His confession was recorded on audio,” the Chairman said.
However, early Tuesday morning, officers discovered that the suspect had taken his own life in the cell, when formalities were being explored for his prosecution.
“He used the blanket provided to him, tearing it with his teeth and hanging himself,” the Chairman disclosed.
He stressed that the suspect was held alone in a separate cell to aid investigations, adding that police would brief him fully on the circumstances surrounding the death.
The Chairman said the family of the slain Forestry Commission guard, Mr Ganyo, had been informed, and management awaited directives from headquarters on further steps.
He warned residents and settlers encroaching on the reserve to desist from illegal activities, announcing new joint security measures, stakeholder engagements, and appeals for increased forest guard personnel to strengthen protection of the reserve.
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