The Bono Regional Police Command says it has made major progress in its fight against armed robbery, arresting eight suspected members of well-known robbery gangs after weeks of intelligence-led operations across the region. Five of the suspects have already been put before the court.
In a statement issued on Monday, December 8, the police said the arrests were part of a targeted campaign to dismantle criminal groups behind a string of robberies and related offences in the Bono and Ahafo Regions.
The suspects are Johnson Amponsah Kwame Diawuo, 47; Shadrach Owusu, 25; Kwafo Samuel, 30; Latif Mustapha, 28; Mosby Owusu, 20; Kofi Iddrisa, 45; Kwabena Agon Azubilla Akalotey, 18; and Baba Kumi Foster, 35. They were picked up at separate locations during coordinated operations.
One of the breakthroughs came on November 18, when police patrols foiled an attempted robbery on the Berekum–Drobo Road. Investigations pointed to a five-member gang led by ex-convict Johnson Amponsah. Two members of the group, Kwafo Samuel and Shadrach Owusu, later confessed and named Amponsah as the leader behind the failed attack and other robberies in the Nkaseim area.
Police arrested Amponsah at his hideout in Nyamennae, where they retrieved quantities of Indian hemp, motorcycle helmets and machetes.
In a separate operation in Berekum, police arrested Latif Mustapha, also known as Star Boy, and Mosby Owusu at Domfete. Mustapha reportedly tried to hide in his ceiling to escape arrest. Officers also detained 18-year-old Kwabena Agon Azubilla Akalotey, believed to be the original owner of a pistol recovered during the operation.
A search of Mustapha’s room uncovered military camouflage uniforms, a toy Glock pistol, a taser, live ammunition, knives, laptops, talismans, military boots and items suspected to be used in their operations. Police also found a loaded Parabellum Model R-9 pistol in Mosby Owusu’s room, allegedly bought from Mustapha for GH¢9,000.
Two more suspects, Kofi Iddrisa and Baba Kumi Foster, were arrested at Ewiakrom for allegedly receiving stolen motorcycles and tricycles that were being smuggled into Côte d’Ivoire. Three motorcycles and a tricycle were recovered.
On December 2, Amponsah, Owusu and Samuel appeared before the Fiapre Circuit Court, where they were charged with conspiracy to commit robbery and attempted robbery. They were remanded to reappear on December 22.
Mustapha and Mosby also appeared before the Sunyani District Court B on charges of illicit trafficking and possession of firearms and military uniforms without authority. They were remanded to return on December 15. Iddrisa and Foster were granted police enquiry bail pending further investigations.
The Bono Regional Police Command says it is pursuing the remaining suspects and working to retrieve all illegal weapons linked to the gangs. The Command also called on the public to provide credible information to support ongoing operations.