The Chief Executive Officer(CEO) of the Forestry Commission, Dr Hugh Brown, has renewed calls for the Commission to be granted paramilitary status to strengthen the protection of Ghana’s forest resources and improve the safety of its personnel.

He made the appeal during the burial of slain officer Raphael Ganyo, who was shot and killed by a poacher while on patrol at the Kalakpa Resource Reserve on January 6, 2026.

Dr. Brown stressed that granting the Commission paramilitary status would enable forest guards to access advanced training and equipment, including appropriate arms, to effectively combat illegal miners, poachers, and other environmental offenders.

“The kind of arms and ammunition we are permitted to use do not match what we are confronted with in the field,” he said, noting that current regulations require the Commission to seek clearance from the Ministry of Defence before accessing certain categories of weapons.

He warned that the existing limitations have left officers vulnerable, particularly as environmental criminals operate with increasingly sophisticated weaponry.

The call comes against the backdrop of rising attacks on Forestry Commission staff.

Data from the Commission indicates that more than a dozen officers have been killed over the past eight years, while dozens more have sustained serious injuries in confrontations with illegal miners, poachers, and illegal loggers.

Within the Wildlife Division alone, over 20 personnel have reportedly been killed or maimed during the period, highlighting the dangers faced by field officers tasked with protecting forest reserves and national parks.

Dr. Brown also cited logistical and operational challenges, including inadequate patrol vehicles, limited protective gear, and a personnel deficit of about 2,400 officers, which he said has stretched the Commission’s capacity.

He disclosed that steps are underway to review the Forestry Commission Act to provide a legal framework that would empower officers to carry arms and enforce law and order more effectively within forest reserves and wildlife parks.

In honour of the late Raphael Ganyo, the Commission has posthumously promoted him to Chief Resource Guard, the highest rank within the resource guard structure.

It also announced plans to rename the Zitoe Camp at the reserve after him, while offering support to his family, including a GHS50,000 donation and employment opportunities for two relatives within the Wildlife Division.

Dr. Brown said the measures reflect the Commission’s commitment to supporting bereaved families and recognising the sacrifices of personnel who risk their lives to safeguard Ghana’s natural resources