The founder of The New Force, Nana Kwame Bediako, popularly known as Cheddar, is facing a legal battle with the Forestry Commission over two tigers allegedly imported into the country without proper permits. The Commission has dragged Cheddar to the High Court, seeking to recover possession of the animals and have them forfeited to the State.
According to court documents, the tigers, identified as Panthera tigris altaica, were brought into Ghana in 2022 without the required export and import permits. The Commission argues that this breaches provisions of the Wildlife Resources Management Act, 2023, and Ghana’s obligations under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
The Commission maintains that the importation of the tigers poses a risk to public safety and animal welfare, as they are non-native to Ghana’s ecological zones. The animals are currently being held at the Achimota Zoo, pending the outcome of the case.
The case has been adjourned to March 5, 2026, as the Commission’s lawyers are yet to successfully serve hearing notices on Cheddar. The Commission is seeking an order confirming the confiscation and permanent forfeiture of the tigers to the State.
The Forestry Commission’s action underscores its commitment to enforcing wildlife laws and protecting endangered species. The outcome of this case will be closely watched, given the implications for wildlife conservation in Ghana.
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Author: Korkor Anumu
