By Samuel Ofori Boateng
Bekwai (Ash) Dec. 16, GNA – The Ashanti South Regional Police Command has announced two major breakthroughs in its intensified efforts to combat violent crime and illegal mining within the region.
The operations, carried out between December 08 and December 11, 2025, led to the arrest of four suspected armed robbers and thirteen individuals engaged in illegal mining on the lands of the Akrokerri College of Education.
Deputy Commissioner of Police DCOP Mr Joseph Nyaaba, Ashanti South regional Police Commander, told journalists at a press briefing that, the latest successes reflected the resolve of the Command to clamp down on criminal activities that threatened public safety and the environment.
According to him, the first incident occurred on December 08, 2025, at about 7:00 p.m., when complainant, Aliu Mohammed of Anwiankwanta was attacked by six armed robbers—two of them masked—wielding assault rifles.
The incident took place at Ofoase Kokobeng, directly in front of the complainant’s residence, shortly after he had closed from work and was driving home in his private Toyota Camry Spider vehicle with registration number GR 8009-15.
The robbers held him at gunpoint and succeeded in making away with seventeen pounds of gold valued at GHS 200,000.00, an Infinix Hot 60 mobile phone, worth GHS 3,000.00, a cash of GHS 490,000.00, a pump-action gun, and the victim’s vehicle.
The attackers fled the scene immediately.
Police patrol teams responded swiftly upon receiving the report and subsequently retrieved the abandoned Toyota Camry in the Ofoase Kokobeng township.
Intelligence-led investigations that followed led to the arrest of two suspects—Salifu Adamu, alias Scorpion, aged 25, and Abdul Latif, alias Bullet, aged 20, on December 09, 2025, at the Tweapease Police checkpoint.
A search conducted at the time of their arrest revealed two live cartridges in the possession of Abdul Latif.
Further intelligence on December 10, 2025, around 8:00 a.m. resulted in the arrest of two additional suspects—Samed Abdulai, aged 40, and Ali Mustapha, aged 30—also at Tweapease.
All four suspects are currently in lawful custody as investigations continue.
DCOP Nyaaba said on December 11, 2025, the Ashanti South Regional Command undertook another intelligence-based operation that resulted in the arrest of thirteen illegal miners operating within the school lands of the Akrokerri College of Education.
The suspects were arrested together with four water pumping machines, which they were using for their illegal mining activities within the school environment.
The arrested individuals are Christopher Kabiobayo, 25, Eric Owusu, 27, Emmanuel Opoku Awuah, 21, Mosea Terkpertey, 29, Emmanuel Appiah Harrison, 31, and John Okrah, 31.
The rest were Shadrack Sarfo, 23, Adu Desmond, 26, Abdul Wahab, 23, Elvis Abnee, 33, Sarfo Shadrack, 33, Nicholas Tetteh, 30 and Darko Yaw, 23.
All suspects have been placed in lawful custody and will be arraigned before court in the coming days.
DCOP Nyaaba, took the opportunity to issue a strong warning to all criminals within the region, urging them to desist from unlawful activities or face decisive action from the police.
He emphasized that his team was fully committed to pursuing offenders wherever they may be hiding.
He also cautioned illegal miners to abandon their activities, reminding them that the full rigours of the law await anyone caught engaging in galamsey.
GNA
Edited by Kwabia Owusu-Mensah/Kenneth Odeng Adade