Issah Wedam, whose age was not given by the police, was suspected to be part of a gang involved in recent robberies on the Esaase-Bokankye stretch on the main Kumasi-Sunyani road.

According to Police, the gang on Friday, 23^rd February 2018, blocked the Esaase-Bokankye stretch amidst shooting leading to the death of one Kwabena Ofusuhene, a pillion rider.

The Abuakwa District Police Command on Friday, 9^th March 2018, arrested 19-year old Eric Vivor alias Destiny, and Issah Wedam (now deceased) for their involvement in the robbery.

The suspects admitted to the crime and mentioned Egollah, Azumah, Mmoyah, Appolar and Kwaku who are all at large as their accomplices.

The now-deceased suspect later led the police to a room at Atwima-Owabi where two (2) locally manufactured guns, a cutlass, assorted mobile phones and a leather ammunition belt with four cartridges were retrieved.

Other items retrieved included; a sword, a pinch bar, a black pack containing assorted ID cards and documents from some financial institutions as well as large quantities of assorted provisions suspected to have been robbed from their victims.

Ashanti Regional Police Commander, COP Ken Yeboah, addressing journalists in Kumasi said whilst police were escorting Issah Wedam to a waiting vehicle, the suspect took to his heels through a bamboo farm towards the banks of the Owabi River to enable him to escape lawful custody.

The police chased after the suspect and fired at him wounding him.

“The suspect was re-arrested and rushed to the Abuakwa Health Center for treatment, but was pronounced dead on arrival”, he added.

He indicated that the command will prosecute suspect Eric Vivor.

The body has since been deposited at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) morgue for preservation and autopsy.

This incident comes at a time when similar robberies have occurred in other parts of the country, raising concerns about general insecurity.

The police administration has stepped up efforts to reduce the robberies by arresting perpetrators and making sure they face the full rigours of the law.

Security guard killed in fuel station robbery

A 43-year old security guard was recently killed by suspected armed robbers who invaded a Goil Fuel Station at Maaban near Adankwame in the Atwima Nwabiagya District of the Ashanti Region. 

Kwaku Abora was found dead on a mat on top of the first floor of the Fuel Station building under construction, after the robbery incident on Saturday, 10^th March 2018.

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By: Hafiz Tijani/Citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post A/R: Robbery suspect gunned down during escape attempt appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Osman Adam, a 32-year old petty trader; Yussif Issahaku, a 29-year old driver; Kadi Sumaila, a 26-year old driver and Osman Alhassan, a 20-year old driver’s mate were arrested by the Tafo Pankrono Divisional Police Command on Monday, March 5, 2018 for their involvement in a robbery at Moshie Zongo, a suburb of Kumasi.

[contextly_sidebar id=”urHJ6M3bbNaqnzh4UL6g7XwpNynnjiks”]The court sentenced Osman Adams to 17 years whilst the three others; Yussif Issahaku, Kadi Sumaila and Osman Alhassan were also sentenced to 15 years each with hard labour.

They were charged with conspiracy to rob and robbery. According to Police, Osman Adam who is a relative of the victim, Fati Abubakar, on March 4, 2018 conspired with the three other suspects to rob her.

All the four suspects, armed with machetes, knives and an axe converged around the victim’s provision shop and robbed her after she had closed at about 10:30 pm on that day.

The suspects taped the victim’s lips to prevent her from shouting.

The managed to take away her handbag which contained an amount of Ghc 800, an Infinix mobile phone and other personal belongings.

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By: Hafiz Tijani/citifmonline.com

The post A/R: Four jailed 62 years for robbery appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

According to the police, the suspect, identified as “Kess @ Kess Billions”, a Nigerian, led a gang of robbers to attack a forex bureau at Teshie and another company at Tema.

[contextly_sidebar id=”1HayrCJHdyvB0HWwzdautNEnBxg7FDgL”]”He is alleged to be the leader of a gang of armed robbers who, on 31/01/8 at about 8:30 am robbed a forex bureau at Teshie Tsuibleoo and made away with an unspecified amount of money,” the statement said.

The suspect also reportedly “led a gang of robbers to attack a company at Community ‘9’, Light Industrial Area on 6th February 2018 and took away colossal sums of money from his victims.”

In their statement, the police called on the public to assist them with relevant information that will lead to the arrest of the suspect.

Forest bureaux have been consistent targets for robbers in 2018 with the assailants attacking over 20 establishments in the Spintex area alone amid a surge in criminal activity.

The Police subsequently arrested about 20 persons in connection with these robberies.

Find the full statement below

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By: Anass Seidu/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post CID hunts for Nigerian leader of robbery gang appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Mrs. Asiamah-Adjei argued that criminal tendencies were influenced more by upbringing and morality and than by desperation from joblessness.

[contextly_sidebar id=”Wd5FZsYeOqnCdRlwJW1XTokK9Tx72fAg”]”How jobless could you be that it would push you to get into armed robbery?” she questioned on Eyewitness News after the Minority stated that there was an inextricable link between jobless New Patriotic Party vigilante youth and the increase in robberies.

Observers have consistently warned that Ghana’s unemployment problem posed a threat to national security.

Vice President Dr. Bawumia admitted the current unemployment levels were a “national security issue”, stating at the 69th Annual New Year School and Conference at the University of Ghana that “it is a national security issue because the devil finds work for idle hands. Ultimately the high level of unemployment is a reflection of the underlined weaknesses in our economy.”

A security analyst, Professor Vladmir Antwi Danso recently noted to Citi News that “if there is the chance for indulging in anything unconstitutional they [unemplyed people] will do it because they have to survive and that is how you look at it when security is concerned.”

‘Born a thief’

Though Mrs. Asiamah-Adjei admitted that there were currently not enough jobs to absorb all the unemployed youth, she insisted that no amount of desperation could push one to robbery.

“Day after day, there are new policies and directives which give different opportunities to other people but if you are not born a thief, I don’t know what kind of hunger that will push you to get into armed robbery. If you do not desire to get into anything like that, what kind of hardship would push you into this? So this is neither here nor there.”

She added that it would be presumptuous to say that unemployment was causing the cause of the escalated insecurity when some robberies are suspected to be aided by insiders.

“We have lots of people with good morals. The fact that people may not have and the opportunity to be employed yet does not mean we should push all these negative issues that are happening on them. It is neither here nor there. We cannot just sit down and assume that it is only because some are unemployed. There are others who may be gainfully employed working all these institutions, for instance, the banks. What about those who work in these institutions who are the ones who give tip-offs? Aren’t they employed?”

“I am saying good morals and however we were brought, the kinds of friends we have are what will influence the robberies more than unemployment,” Mrs. Asiamah-Adjei stated.

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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Don’t blame unemployed youth for robberies – Dep. Minister appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

As part of its plan, the government has said that:

• There will be heavy military and police presence in major cities across the country starting from today [Thursday, March, 1].
• There will be surgical operations in certain areas of the countries based on intelligence to flush out criminals and suspected criminals.
• That the Ministry of Energy has been directed to accelerate the pace of its cities and communities lighting programme in order to light up our cities and communities in especially crime-prone areas.
• There will be enhanced surveillance on financial institutions, forex bureaus and money vending points across our cities.
• That all financial institutions take steps to install CCTV cameras on their premises.
• That the Government will roll out a programme to link all these CCTV cameras to a national operation command centre.
• The security personnel will crack down on citizens using mounted sirens on vehicles illegally.

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By: citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Govt’s 7-point plan to halt surge in robberies appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The Eastern Regional Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Ebenezer Tetteh, said they were “very hardened criminals” and persons who were already standing trial.

[contextly_sidebar id=”1v7UUdp5DJUuovvMLKIC92gkIYjTCEjF”]“What we have been able to establish so far is that all of them were standing trial and they were granted bail and they jumped bail. We have also established that these are all ex-convicts.”
At a time where robbery incidents have escalated dramatically, he said this underscored the need for stiffer punishments for such crimes.

ASP Tetteh said such persons were and danger to society and “needed to be given stiffer punishments so that it will serve as a deterrent to the other gangs.”

He further appealed to community members, private companies and benevolent individuals in the Eastern Region to assist the police with vehicles and motorbikes to enable them to patrol the new areas intensively to reduce the high robbery attacks as the police are under-resourced.

“We want to encourage residents to continue to volunteer vital information that will lead to the arrest of the other syndicate. We believe that there are still other groups who are operating in the municipality.”

The three convicts added to three others who had been arrest earlier on Thursday for their alleged roles in three separate robbery incidents by a gang of four armed men in the New Juaben Municipality.

During the three separate robberies by the armed gang of four, victims were subjected to severe beatings, during which a family were robbed of their wedding rings, television sets, jewellery, laptops, footwear, clothes and foodstuffs.

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By: Neil Amatey Kanarku /citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post New Juaben robbers were suspects who jumped bail – Police appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

In a statement on social media, he noted some concern that some persons may be orchestrating the upsurge in crime for parochial motives.

“Let us hope the recent robbery and killings is downright plain robbery and not a politically motivated action from within or without, calculated to undermine those in charge of the security machinery in order to pave the way for certain parochial ambitions,” the former President stated.

Despite this, Mr. Rawlings said the security agencies owe Ghanaians “the responsibility of keeping the nation safe and secure.

“Let us all confront this menace with utmost confidence and professionalism while ensuring that no one, high or low takes advantage of our vulnerabilities,” he added in his statement.

There has been a dramatic surge in robberies and violent crime in the past month.

A number of these robberies have been carried out in broad daylight and have resulted in multiple casualties.

Most recently, on the morning of Wednesday, February 28, a Lebanese national was robbed of GHc 200,000 and killed at the Tema Industrial area in the Greater Accra Region.

The victim, Ahmed Safiadeen, aged 54, was a cashier of Delta Agro Company and had gone to withdraw the amount of GHC 200,000 from the bank for the salaries of workers, and other factory expenses of the company.

Beyond the killing of the Lebanese, there was a daylight attack on a Forex Bureaux at Spintex and two robberies in the North Kaneshie area this past week.

In one of the incidents, about 10 armed men stormed Royal Motors, an automobile company in Accra, making away with the company’s sales.

Eyewitnesses reported that the robbers trailed a bullion van that had entered the Industrial Area premises of the company to collect the company’s sales made the previous day.

‘We’re ready to die’

Despite these attacks, the Director of Operations for the Ghana Police Service, DCOP George Akufo Dampare, has said although his outfit is logistically deficient, they are ready to put their lives on the line to ensure the safety of every Ghanaian.

Speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show, DCOP Dampare also noted that the support of the citizens will go a long way to help the Police Service combat the increasing rate of crime in the country.

“We want to give them [citizens] the assurance that we will go every length, including losing our lives to make them safe. We understand that we are not there yet, in terms of the full complement of our equipment. We also understand that over the years, government after government has made an attempt to bring us to a particular level in terms of equipment,” he said.

Over 20 robbery suspects have been arrested this week in connection with robberies in areas like Spintex, Tema and Kanashie.

According to the police, several of such robbers who have been arrested since Monday are currently undergoing screening.

COP Dampare, 10 others reassigned amidst soaring robbery cases

Mr. Rawlings’ comments came shortly before a major reshuffle hit the service.  Dr. George Akuffo Dampare, Director General of Police Operations, has been reassigned by the Inspector General of Police, David Asante-Apeatu, to head the Research and Planning Department.

He is to be replaced immediately by the Eastern Regional Police Commander, DCOP Simon Afeku.

Nine others have also been reassigned to take up various positions across the country. Whilst the reasons for the latest reshuffle are unknown; it comes at a time when the police service has come under severe criticism following an increase in robbery cases across the country.

Below is s full list of the transfers

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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post I hope recent robberies are not politically motivated – Rawlings appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The money thought to be in the region of GH¢200,000 was meant to pay the February salaries of the company’s workers.

The robbers are believed to have followed Mr. Safiadeen from the bank and shot him in his Toyota Corolla and made away with the amount. In the meantime, the company has closed down temporarily, whiles arrangements are being made to airlift the body of the deceased to his home country, Lebanon.

While many Ghanaians have noted this incident as the latest in a growing list of armed robbery attacks in various parts of the country, others wondered why the company had decided to withdraw such a huge sum of money instead of paying their employees through the bank.

The Human Resource Manager of the Company, John Okoe Laryea, admitted that prior to the incident, this method of payment had seemed convenient, but insisted that the company would change their routine.

“It’s not an issue per se. Sometimes you want to do your work in a convenient manner but what has happened is a sign that it is not a convenient way of doing payments. We’ve learnt our lessons in a very difficult way and we’re hopeful that things will change in the near future,” he told journalists including Citi News‘ Anass Seidu.

‘Workers understand’

As a result of Tuesday’s attack, workers of the company might have to wait a little longer for their salaries.

However, Mr. Laryea believes that the staff understand the “difficult situation” the company is in at the moment and aren’t demanding to be paid.

“It’s a very difficult situation but as we all know Ghanaians are very considerate when it comes to sharing our brother’s pain. They understand that if this situation hadn’t happened, they would have been sorted out by now. The workers understand that we are in a difficult time so they are taking it easy. Hopefully, in due course, all these things will be sorted out. They know that there isn’t a single period where their money had been held for days before being paid. They are joining the company in these hard times to see what happens in the future,” he said

Back on Monday.

Mr. Laryea added that the workers of the company, who were a little shaken after the incident, had been given a few days off to recover.

He, however, expressed his hope that work would resume on Monday.

“Yesterday, we only operated until the incident, after which we shut everything and went home. Some of us followed to the hospital and went to the police station for an official complaint to be made and the police came back to do further investigations. Today we’ve closed and tomorrow as well, we aren’t working. God willing, we’ll come back on Monday to continue our activities,” he added.

The Police have since stated that they are on a manhunt for the suspects involved. This incident adds to the growing number of robbery incidents in recent times.

On Tuesday, there were two robbery attacks in the North Kaneshie area which left some persons injured.

There have also been a number of robbery attacks in some parts of Accra and Koforidua in recent days.

‘We’re ready to die’

Despite these constant attacks the Director of Operations for the Ghana Police Service, COP George Akufo Dampare has said although his outfit is logistically deficient, they are ready to put their lives on the line to ensure the safety of every Ghanaian.

Speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show, Dampare also noted that the support of the citizens will go a long way to help the Police Service combat the increasing rate of crime in the country.

“We want to give them [citizens] the assurance that we will go every length, including losing our lives to make them safe. We understand that we are not there yet, in terms of the full complement of our equipment. We also understand that over the years, government after government has made an attempt to bring us to a particular level in terms of equipment,” he said.

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By: Edwin Kwakofi & Anass Seidu/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Lebanese man’s killing: We won’t carry bulk cash again- Delta Agro firm appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Speaking on Eyewitness News, the Security Analyst adviced that Ghanaians brace themselves for a lot more of these cases, noting that the situation will get really bad before it gets better.

[contextly_sidebar id=”Sv1xEz5Zrx8LbZxxm2WYNsanxTA5O7vC”]“My point is that many more of this will happen, this is going to get considerably worse before it starts to turn,” he said.
According to him, all these rampant criminal acts can be attributed to the fact that Ghana has not invested enough in her law enforcement sector.

“I have said this the last three years and proven over time that because we have not invested in our law enforcement area, in terms of the manpower, the equipment, and in terms of the fact that we don’t do any crime surveys, that these things will happen and it is coming to pass,” he said.

He also stated that the security system in the country is a sham, pointing to the fact that, the country does not prosecute cases as they are supposed to. He says there aren’t even good enough roads for the police to chase robbers if the need arises.

“We don’t have enough prosecutors, 82 percent of all crimes committed in this country are still under investigation, less than three percent are actually convicted, we have a response time of between 15 to 20minutes, the police are not consulted about the kind of vehicles that are needed for them to be able to chase robbers taking into the consideration the quality of our roads,”he said.

He noted that the situation will only continue to worsen, as long as civilans can get their hands on unregistered weapons, as long as the youthful populations are unemployed and as long as there is a constant expansion of unplanned urban places.

Robbers on rampage

This week has seen a number of robbery incidents in the Accra, one on a Forex Bureaux at Spintex and two daylight robberies in the North Kaneshie area.

Two persons are reported to have sustained gunshot wounds from suspected robbers who appeared to be fleeing a crime scene.

Gunfire was first heard in the area around a Latex Foam showroom at North Kaneshie where the robbers had crashed their vehicle. Two persons have since been arrested in connection with the incident.

Also on Tuesday morning, armed men stormed Royal Motors, an automobile company in Accra, making away with the company’s sales.

Eyewitnesses reported that the robbers trailed a bullion van that had entered the Industrial Area premises of the company to collect the company’s sales made the previous day.

Recent arrests

The Inspector General of Police (IGP), David Asante Appeatu, had earlier announced that the police arrested a group of suspected robbers believed to be behind attacks on about 20 forex bureaux in the Spintex road area in just 2018.

The attacks on these Forex Bureaux were growing number of robberies and high-profile criminal activity in the region.

Mobile money transfer points have also been targeted by robbers in recent times.

‘We’re ready to die’

Despite these attacks, the Director of Operations for the Ghana Police Service, COP George Akufo Dampare has said although his outfit is logistically deficient, they are ready to put their lives on the line to ensure the safety of every Ghanaian.

Speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show, Dampare also noted that the support of the citizens will go a long way to help the Police Service combat the increasing rate of crime in the country.

“We want to give them [citizens] the assurance that we will go every length, including losing our lives to make them safe. We understand that we are not there yet, in terms of the full complement of our equipment. We also understand that over the years, government after government has made an attempt to bring us to a particular level in terms of equipment,” he said.

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By: Farida Yusif/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post ‘Robbery cases will get worse before it gets better’- Kwesi Aning appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

This was disclosed by the Interior Minister Ambrose Derry who was commenting on the recent upsurge in crime, particularly armed robbery.

He said government is taking swift measures to deal with crime, especially armed robbery.

[contextly_sidebar id=”m90LoYDiOkdKM8xLb7QsyC3sarhVoUti”]Speaking to journalists today [Wednesday] February 28, 2018, on the sidelines of a wreath laying ceremony for servicemen who lost their lives in the February 28 crossroad shooting held at the Black Star Square, the Minister said processes have commenced for the procurement of vehicles, helicopters and other equipment needed for the smooth operations of the security services.

“We have focused to fight crime, it has never been so. In the past it has been a general approach to crime and being reactive…the law has provided that in terms of security matters, you can have sole sourcing, we might have to do that to quickly get things in.”

He said they will in the meantime procure “about three helicopters… and they will be stationed in Accra with the police and they will help in the backups.”

The Police Service over the years, has complained about lack logistics to fight crime following armed robbery attacks on mobile money vendors and forex Bureau institutions.

There have been robbery attacks in areas like Hallelujah, Gbetsile, Oyibi, Ashongman and other communities within the Greater Accra Region.

Two separate daylight robbery cases were recorded in Accra on Tuesday, February 27, 2018, one in North Kaneshie and the other one at Royal Motors in Accra.

In the case of Royal Motors, the robbers stormed the premises of the automobile company and made away with huge sums of money believed to be the company’s sales for the day.

Some nine robbers according to the police have been arrested for attacking some 20 forex bureaux in the Spintex road.

The police also said two persons have been arrested in connection with the North Kaneshie robbery.

President Akufo-Addo in his state of the nation address in February 2018, said that government was going to allocate an amount of Ghc800 million to retool the police service.

Many have cast doubt about the pledge, since similar promises to the service over the years have not been fulfilled.

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By: Seidu Anass/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Police to get helicopters to fight crime – Ambrose Dery appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.