The Chairman of the Forestry Commission (FC) Board, Mr. Isaac Essien (Esq.), led the Commission’s management and staff to pay their last respects to Mr. Raphael Ganyo, a “gallant soldier” who fell in line of duty and commiserate with his family during his final funeral rites. Raphael Ganyo was a 28-year-old Resource Guard with the Wildlife Division of the FC, who tragically lost his life at the hands of a poacher at the Kalakpa Resource Reserve in Ho, Volta Region, on January 6, 2026.
Born on March 15, 1997, in Adzorzekope near Mafi-Kumasi in the Volta Region, Ganyo joined the Commission on November 1, 2021, as a Resource Guard, serving with dedication in the Law Enforcement Unit until his untimely death. His passing adds to the troubling trend of field officers being killed or gravely injured by illegal forest operators while executing their duties.
Despite operating under difficult conditions with limited resources to safeguard forest and wildlife resources, forestry guards face increasing threats from illegal miners, and chainsaw operators, and poachers, who exploit natural resources without adherence to the law. According to data from the Forestry Services Division (FSD), at least six (6) officers have been killed in confrontations with illegal miners in recent years, with an additional thirty-four (34) sustaining serious, life-threatening injuries.
Further investigations reveal that since 2017, a total of twenty-three (23) staff members from the Wildlife Division have been either killed or severely injured by poachers and illegal chainsaw operators. Among them, four resource guards have been killed from 2017 to 2026, while nineteen (19) others were critically wounded, with some still battling for their lives.
During the funeral, the Chief Executive of FC, Dr. Hugh Brown, reiterated the urgent need for the Commission to acquire paramilitary status to enhance the protection of the nation’s forest resources and ensure the safety of field personnel. He revealed that the Commission is actively engaged in legal consultations to amend Act 571 with the goal of securing paramilitary status that would grant personnel the legal authority to carry firearms for their protection.
Dr. Brown emphasised that the current structure of the Commission leaves its staff vulnerable to violent encounters with heavily armed criminals wielding sophisticated weapons, stating, “The weapons we are authorised to use are inadequate compared to what we face in the field.” He also appealed to the public for support, underscoring the inherent dangers of the work and the need for collective effort to fulfill their mandate. He pointed out some operational challenges, including insufficient personnel and logistics.
In recognition of his service and sacrifice, the Forestry Commission has posthumously promoted Raphael Ganyo to the rank of Chief Resource Guard, the highest position within the resource guard hierarchy. Additionally, the Zitoe Camp, where he was stationed, will be renamed the “Raphael Ganyo Camp”, with formal procedures to officialise the change.
To support the grieving family, the Commission has pledged to employ two family members at the Wildlife Division as replacements for the fallen guard and also donated an amount of Fifty Thousand Ghana Cedis (GH¢50,000) to the family, along with other support measures extended since the incident occurred.
Also present at the event were Mr. Joseph Osiakwan, Technical Advisor at the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources; Dr. Abukari Attah Esq., FC Board Member; Dr. Richard Gyimah, Executive Director of the Timber Industry Development Division; Dr. Gordon Sarfo Adu, Executive Director of FSD; and Kwabena Akyeampong Boakye Esq., Director of the Timber Validation Department, along with various managers and staff from the Forestry Commission.
