Unidentified illegal miners have shot an official of the Forestry Commission in the Cape 3 Points Forest Reserve in the Western Region.
The victim, who is with the Rapid Response Unit (RRU), was shot in the head and back.
According to a statement by the commission, John Baba Konlan was shot during an operation to apprehend the illegal miners.
The statement said a nine-member team made up of the RRU and forest guards from the Takoradi Forest District Office was deployed after they got information that some illegal miners were operating at a portion of the forest reserve.
Upon arrival, the team split up into three groups to search for the alleged mining site.
After an hour of searching, they spotted the miners engaged in what is known as ‘dig and wash’.
However, the suspects started shooting at the team members when they attempted to arrest them.
“According to a member of the team, he heard one of his team members screaming and calling out to the rest of the members of the team to come to the aid of Mr John Baba Konlan because he had been shot.
“They took him to the Effia Nkwanta Government Hospital in the Western Region. He was referred to the Cape Coast Regional Hospital for further treatment. From there, he was referred to the University of Ghana Medical Centre in Accra, where he was admitted,” the statement said.
It added that he has since been discharged.
Meanwhile, the case has since been reported to the Takoradi Central Police Station, and no arrest has been made.