Climate Change & Energy
Mole National Park poachers granted GHS20K bail for killing pregnant buffalo
Source: ghenvironment.com - April 13, 2022
The Bole Magistrate Court has granted a bail of GHS20,000 to two poachers from the Larabanga Community of the West Gonja Municipality, identified as Mumin Baharu and Osman Ibrahim a.k.a. Vuga.
They were apprehended by the Rangers of the Mole National Park on 9th April, 2022.
On 11th April 2022, the suspects were arraigned for unlawful entry to the Mole National Park and unlawful poaching of a pregnant buffalo.
At the Bole Magistrate Court, the two men pleaded guilty to the charges but there was no interpreter to communicate the hearing, so the presiding judge, His Lordship Edward Essel, adjourn the hearing to 27th April, 2021.
How the arrest was made
The Damongo Divisional Police Command in the Savannah Region arrested the two poachers after being handed over by the rangers, for killing a pregnant buffalo inside the Mole National Park on 9th April 2022. Two others are however on the run.
The poachers according to sources at the park have been on the wanted list of the management of the park as a result of their illegal activities for many years.
According to one of the rangers involved in the arrest of the poachers (name withheld), they were on their routine patrol in the park when they heard a gunshot.
They quickly rushed to the scene and saw the poachers cutting the buffalo into pieces.
Luck however eluded them as they were ambushed by the rangers, arrested and handed over to the police. Two of the poachers however managed to escape and the rangers are still pursuing them.