- Three poachers arrested in Mole National Park with a gun and ammunition
- Suspects, including a repeat offender, remanded to appear in court on July 12
- Park authorities continue crackdown on poaching to protect Ghana's wildlife heritage
The Bole Magistrate Court, presided over by His Worship Edward Essel, has remanded three notorious poachers in custody, pending further investigation and trial. The suspects, Saaka Karim, 26, Abdulai Adam, 25, and Ahmed Fatawu, 23, all farmers from Laribanga in the West Gonja Municipality, were arrested by Mole National Park staff on June 27, 2024, while on a normal patrol duty.
According to the prosecutor, ASP Wisdom Pavis, the staff traced footprints suspected to be poachers and arrested three of the five suspects, recovering a gun, cartridges, and food items, including a bowl of gari, stew, sugar, and salt. The law enforcement officer of the Mole National Park, Alfred Kofi Baba, revealed that Karim had previously entered the park in 2020, shot a staff member, Haruna Hashim, on the shoulder, and was fined GH₵1,920 and signed a bond of good behavior for 18 months.
Despite the previous warning, Karim continued to engage in poaching activities, leading to his re-arrest. The court heard that the suspects were found with a gun and ammunition, indicating their intention to hunt and kill wildlife in the protected area. The prosecutor urged the court to remand the suspects to ensure further investigation and prevent them from fleeing justice.
The court granted the request, and the suspects were remanded to reappear before the court on July 12, 2024. The case has drawn attention to the ongoing efforts of the Mole National Park authorities to combat poaching and protect Ghana’s wildlife heritage.
