Ghana Police Dismantle Major Robbery Syndicates as Bekwai Court Jails Trio for 22 Years

The Ghana Police Service has intensified its crackdown on violent crime, dismantling several organized robbery syndicates and securing significant prison sentences for offenders. Inspector-General of Police Christian Tetteh Yohuno confirmed that a series of coordinated operations conducted between April and September 2026 led to the apprehension of 20 suspects across multiple regions. These operations yielded a substantial cache of illegal weaponry, including 11 AK-47 rifles and hundreds of rounds of ammunition. The IGP noted that these arrests have provided critical leads in high-profile cases, including the murder of a missing couple and several major bank robberies that had previously unsettled the public.

Among the most recent successes is the disruption of a gang operating along the N6 highway on the Nsawam stretch of the Accra-Kumasi road. Police arrested five individuals, including a 14-year-old who allegedly served as a lookout for the group. In a notable development, Isaka Nafse, the mother of the suspected gang leader known as "Obotan," was also taken into custody for her alleged role in concealing a firearm used during their operations. A subsequent search of their premises led to the recovery of multiple guns and an unregistered motorbike, highlighting the involvement of family networks in shielding criminal activities.

Parallel to these field operations, the judiciary has delivered a stern message to criminals through the Bekwai Circuit Court. Three men—Eric Afful, 21; Abdul Ganiu, 24; and David Mensah, 26—were sentenced to long terms of hard labour for a violent robbery at Adansi Akwaaku. The court handed a 20-year sentence to Afful for abetment, while Ganiu and Mensah each received 22 years for the robbery itself. The trio had ambushed a gold buyer on September 3, 2026, stealing significant amounts of cash and gold. While some items were recovered, the police are still searching for two pounds of missing gold.

These combined efforts by the police and the judiciary underscore a renewed commitment to restoring public safety and order. Inspector-General Yohuno emphasized that the dismantling of these networks is part of a broader strategy to proactively neutralize violent crime before it escalates. As investigations continue into the remaining members of these syndicates and the location of stolen assets, the authorities have urged the public to remain vigilant and cooperative, signaling that the current sweep is only one phase of an ongoing national security initiative.