By Opesika Tetteh Puplampu
Sege, Aug. 14, GNA — A security consultant has explained that security agencies may deliberately withhold information from individuals believed to be potential targets of an impending criminal operation to preserve the element of surprise and prevent panic.
Mr Richard Kumadoe, a Fraud Prevention Expert and Security Consultant, said such an approach could become necessary when security personnel had intelligence suggesting that a crime was about to occur.
His comments follow conflicting accounts surrounding an alleged attempted robbery at a GCB Bank branch at Labone in Accra on Thursday, August 13, 2026.
According to reports, the Ghana Police Service said it had foiled a robbery attempt at the branch, resulting in two suspects being shot dead and another arrested, and indicated that further details would be communicated.
GCB Bank, however, denied that a robbery or attempted robbery had occurred at its Labone branch.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the bank said the branch had not been breached and that no customer, staff member, bank funds or property had been affected.
It said the branch remained secure and was operating normally, while assuring customers that they could continue to conduct their banking transactions with confidence.
The differing accounts have raised questions about the circumstances surrounding the security operation, including whether potential targets would necessarily be informed before such an operation.
Mr Kumadoe said the primary objectives of security operations were to prevent criminal activities, protect lives and property, safeguard assets and facilitate the arrest of suspects.
He said security agencies could, for operational reasons, decide not to alert a potential target if prior notification could compromise the operation.
“For operational security, and other relevant obvious reasons, they will mostly not inform the intended victims,” he said.
Mr Kumadoe explained that informing a potential target prematurely could trigger panic, disrupt business operations or cause people to raise an alarm, potentially alerting suspects and undermining the operation.
“Rather, they will proceed using the elements of surprise and do everything possible to be precise, decisive and professional with the operation in order to maintain the status quo,” he said.
He, however, stressed the importance of communication between security agencies and institutions or individuals affected by such operations once the immediate security considerations had passed.
Mr Kumadoe said careful explanation and constructive engagement could help resolve misunderstandings and enable affected institutions to understand the circumstances surrounding an operation.
“I strongly believe careful explanation and fruitful engagement between the enforcers and supposed crime targets will help resolve this matter,” he said.
He said the absence of prior notification to a potential target should not, by itself, be interpreted as evidence that no security operation had taken place, stressing that operational secrecy could be critical where premature disclosure might alert suspects.
He nevertheless advocated appropriate engagement with affected institutions after security operations to maintain public confidence and strengthen cooperation between security agencies and the institutions they protect.
The Police have indicated that further details on the Labone incident will be communicated.
GNA
Edited by Laudia Anyorkor Nunoo/Audrey Dekalu
14 August 2026
Reporter: Opesika Tetteh Puplampu, GNA