The Anti Armed Robbery Taskforce of the Ghana Police Service has arrested a 35-year-old phone repairer in connection with the deadly mobile money robbery attack in Ekye Amanfrom in Kwahu Afram Plains District in the Eastern region.
The suspect Elisha Asante was arrested based on police intelligence at Adawso in Kwahu South District.
The Public Relations Officer of the Eastern Regional Police Command Ebenezer Tetteh told Starr News “Elisha Asante is suspected to have been part of a group of armed robbers who attacked a mobile money vendor at Ekye Amanfrom leading to the death of a bystander who was shot and died subsequently”
He explained further that “based on intelligence, he was arrested at Adawso and he is currently assisting police in investigations. Police are on the manhunt for the other accomplices and we hope to get them arrested as soon as possible”.
DSP Ebenezer Tetteh said the Suspect will be arraigned before court on charges of murder and robbery .
Kwahu Afram Plains area has been battling with highway robbery incidents for about two decades. Many have been shot dead, while others sustained injuries. Victims have lost huge amounts of money and personal belongings.
Owing to this, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Dr. Geroge Akuffo Dampare deployed the Anti-Armed robbery squad to the area upon assumption of office.
The IGP subsequently led some top management members of the Ghana Police Service to visit Kwahu Afram Plains on September 22, 2021, to court the corporation of Traditional leaders and residents for the renewed commitment of the Police to fight the menace.
However, the robbers struck again on Saturday, October 9,2021 at about 7:30pm and gunned down a motor rider, identified as Bright during the robbery of a mobile money vendor.
The four-member robbery gang wearing face masks invaded Samuel Agbozo Enterprise which is a mobile money and Phone shop amidst indiscriminate firing of warning shots.
They took away money and many mobile phones and subsequently robbed a nearby provision shop as well.
The robbers who were on foot absconded into the bush with the booty before the arrival of the police.
The following day, the immediate past District Chief Executive for Afram Plains South, George Ofori Junior narrowly escaped highway attack while on his way to Ekye Amanfrom to attend a funeral .
The DCE who was in his official vehicle with his driver bumped into the robbery attack at Boakyekrom stretch of Tease to Ekye Amanfrom road but the driver failed to stop and rather accelerated to escape.
Suspect gunned down
Meanwhile, a suspected armed robber was recently shot dead by armed police personnel deployed to Kwahu Afram Plains to curb rampant robbery incidents in the area.
Kwasi Thomas alias Gambo was killed when he allegedly attempted to escape from Police after his arrest.
Starrfm.com.gh has gathered that Gambo was arrested by the police based on intelligence at dawn while asleep with his wife at Ekye Amanfrom in the Kwahu Afram Plains South District.
However, he allegedly attempted to escape from lawful arrest while being transported to the Donkorkrom Divisional Police command hence was gunned down.
The family visited the Donkorkrom Presbyterian Hospital Morgue to identify the body on Friday.
The family has however debunked the claims by the police.
According to them, the deceased was not an armed robber, did not resist arrest nor did he attempt to escape from Police custody.
They are calling for an independent investigation into the incident.
Gambo was a radio serial caller sympathetic to the ruling party but some residents have told Starr News there has always been suspicion that he was part of a robbery gang that has been terrorizing commuters on roads in the area.
Gambo left behind six children and a wife.
Source: Ghana/starrfm.com.gh/Kojo Ansah
