Forest Guard Shot by Suspected Illegal Loggers in Abesewa

A forest guard has been critically injured after suspected illegal loggers allegedly shot him during a confrontation at a newly established forest plantation at Abesewa in the Ahafo Ano South West District of the Ashanti Region. The incident occurred as the suspects attempted to enter the plantation to fell trees illegally.

Forest Guard Sustains Gunshot Wounds

One of the forest guards tasked with protecting the area sustained gunshot wounds during the confrontation and is currently receiving medical treatment at the Tepa Government Hospital. The armed suspects, who have been identified as suspected illegal loggers, were confronted by the forest guards after they attempted to enter the plantation.

Odikro Calls for Swift Action

Speaking to Adom News, the Odikro of Bosomproso, Nana Yaw Gyamfi, said the forest plantation was established through a public-private partnership as part of efforts to restore degraded forest reserves through a reforestation initiative. The trees have grown significantly and are nearing maturity, but suspected illegal loggers have, over the past year, been harvesting them unlawfully for commercial purposes despite several attempts to stop the practice.

"The illegal loggers are becoming a major threat to our community," Nana Yaw Gyamfi said. "They are destroying a forest we have invested heavily in to restore. The worrying aspect is that they are heavily armed and continue to threaten the lives of those protecting the plantation." He appealed to the government to deploy security personnel to support forest protection efforts in the area.

Forest Protection Efforts Under Threat

Nana Yaw Gyamfi warned that continued illegal logging could undermine investments made in the reforestation project. "If the government does not deploy military personnel to protect the forest, the Tree for Life initiative will achieve little," he added. "We will simply be wasting the huge investments made in restoring these forests." He urged authorities to act swiftly to protect the plantation and bring the perpetrators to justice.

Police Launch Investigation

Meanwhile, police have commenced investigations into the incident and efforts are underway to arrest the suspects. The incident has raised concerns about the safety of forest guards and the effectiveness of forest protection efforts in the region. As the situation unfolds, the government is under pressure to take decisive action to protect the forest and its inhabitants.

Source: Adom Online