One feared dead in Kalakpa Game Reserve clash

One person is feared dead in a gunfire exchange between Park Rangers of the Kalakpa Wildlife Resource Reserve and syndicated poachers from the Dzakpo community in the Adaklu District.

Mr Samuel Darko Akonor, the Park Manager, who narrated the incident to the Ghana News Agency (GNA), said the poachers engaged the Park Rangers on night duty patrols at the Abutia area of the Reserve, some 20 kilometres from Dzakpo, in the early hours of Tuesday.

He said the Rangers, who had heard a gunshot in the Reserve attempted to ward-off the poachers but were met with sporadic shootings, compelling the team to return fire at about 0100 hours on Wednesday.

The Park Manager said a team from the Reserve reported the incident to the Ho Municipal Police Command and requested for reinforcement to enable the team visit the spot of the shooting incident, after the poachers said one of them was missing.

Mr Akonor said the search party including the Rangers, Police and Dzakpo community members were unsuccessful in locating the missing person.

He, however told the GNA that unconfirmed information suggested the missing person was shot dead with the body allegedly in possession of some persons in the community.

Mr Akonor said the Police SWAT team after the search, moved in swiftly to the rescue of some Rangers, who were taken captive by the incensed youth of Dzakpo in a revenge attack.

The Park Manager said one of their camps near the Dzakpo community was subsequently vandalised by the people allegedly.

Superintendent of Police, Mr Anthony Danso, Ho Municipal Police Commander, confirmed the incident to the GNA and said the father of the victim reported an incident of a missing person to Police on Monday.

He said Police intelligence however gathered that the father knew where the deceased's body was and said the Police was going into the matter.