A suspect connected to the fatal shooting of a wildlife officer at the Kalakpa Forest Reserve in the Ho West District has been found dead while in police custody at Abutia Kloe, where he was being held to assist with investigations.
The Assembly Member for the Abutia Kloe Electoral Area, Fredrick Tengey, confirmed the development, stating that the suspect was discovered lifeless in a police cell, with preliminary indications pointing to a possible case of self-inflicted harm.
According to Mr Tengey, the family of the deceased wildlife officer has been officially informed of the incident, although police authorities are yet to issue a formal statement on the circumstances surrounding the suspect’s death.
“I received a call from the family of Raphael Ganyo, who was shot in the reserve. According to them, the suspect has hanged himself and died in the cell. They confirmed the dead body in the cell, but I have yet to confirm from the district commander,” he said.
The suspect had been arrested in connection with the killing of a 28-year-old wildlife officer, identified as Mr Ganyo, who was shot and killed in the early hours of Tuesday, January 6, 2026.
According to the Forestry Commission, the deceased officer was part of a patrol team responding to suspected poaching activities near the Zitoe Camp within the Kalakpa Forest Reserve when they encountered an armed individual close to the boundary of the protected area.
The encounter reportedly led to the fatal shooting of the officer, sparking investigations and the subsequent arrest of the suspect now found dead.
Police officials have so far remained silent on the matter, as investigations continue into both the shooting incident and the circumstances surrounding the suspect’s death in custody.
