The Ghana Police Service has arrested 20 suspects and recovered 11 AK-47 assault rifles, other firearms and hundreds of rounds of ammunition in a series of intelligence-led operations targeting robbery syndicates across the country.
The operations, conducted in the Western, Northern, Savannah and Greater Accra regions between April and September this year, also resulted in the arrest of suspects linked to the murder of a missing couple, bank robbery attacks, highway robberies and the Buipe Cattle Market robbery.
Briefing the media at the National Police Headquarters in Accra last Monday afternoon, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Christian Tetteh Yohuno, said the operations were part of the police's efforts to dismantle organised criminal networks and recover illegal weapons.
He said the police gathered intelligence on criminal gangs operating in various parts of the country and deployed special intelligence teams to work with the respective regional commands.
“I am happy to announce that all these operations proved successful. In all, we arrested several suspects and retrieved weapons and ammunition, among several other exhibits,” he said.
Missing couple
The IGP disclosed the arrest of a 32-year-old man, Abraham Awundok, in connection with the murder of Dr Jesse Amuah and his wife, Elizabeth Esi Amuah, who were reported missing in April this year.
He said that investigations led the police to suspect the couple had been murdered, after which searches were conducted at their residence and other locations.
He said their remains were subsequently recovered and conveyed to the Police Hospital morgue for preservation and autopsy.
Mr Yohuno said investigations established that Awundok, who worked as an errand boy for the couple, had murdered them and taken their mobile phones, money and private vehicle before leaving the country for the United Arab Emirates.
He said the suspect was declared wanted via an INTERPOL Red Notice and was deported from Dubai to Ghana on August 30, 2026.
“During interrogation, the suspect admitted to the murders and remains in police custody while investigations continue,” he revealed.
The IGP also disclosed that the police foiled an alleged robbery attempt targeting banks in the Labone and Cantonments areas in Accra.
According to him, the police had, since April this year, been monitoring a suspected robbery syndicate believed to have been targeting bank customers and planning attacks on banks within the Greater Accra and Tema metropolises.
He said the gang allegedly monitored customers, used master keys to open their vehicles and, in some instances, broke into the vehicles after customers had withdrawn money from banks.
For instance, Mr Yohuno said the gang robbed a woman of GH¢50,000 at Agbamaame in Tema Community 2 on May 17, 2026, after she had withdrawn the money from a bank.
“On June 11, the gang allegedly attacked a man at gunpoint at Achimota after he withdrew an unspecified amount of money from a bank. On August 13, the police received information that members of the gang had been spotted at a bank on the Spintex Road and were heading towards Labone and Cantonments.
The operation led to two suspects being shot dead, one escaping and another being arrested,” Mr Yohuno said.
He said a search of a Toyota Highlander allegedly used by the gang resulted in the recovery of 13 vehicle registration numbers and a Blow F90 pistol.
The IGP said investigations revealed that the suspects allegedly brought vehicles into the country and changed their Nigerian number plates to Ghanaian registration numbers for their criminal activities.
“A suspect, Augustine Okechuku Maazi, 49, has since been remanded by the court,” he added.
Robbery gang dismantled
In the Western Region, Mr Yohuno said the police dismantled a robbery gang accused of attacks on gold dealers’ shops, mining sites and communities in Wassa Akropong, Diaso, Dome, Abofour Camp and the Manso enclave.
The operation, he said, conducted between August and September 4 this year, resulted in the arrest of five suspects and the death of another suspect.
The police also recovered three AK-47 assault rifles, five magazines, 357 rounds of AK-47 ammunition and two vehicles.
Mr Yohuno said one of the suspects who died during the operation, Seidu Salifu, 40, was linked to robbery incidents at Sakam near Offinso and was standing trial at the Nsuta Circuit Court over the robbery of gold bullion at Offinso Abofour in July 2025.
In a separate operation on August 21, Mr Yohuno said their Western Regional Police Command arrested four suspects over the robbery and murder of a 40-year-old gold buyer, Seth Kobina, at Agona Fie near Agona Nkwanta.
In another operation, the IGP said the Northern Regional Police Intelligence Directorate arrested three suspects in connection with a series of armed robberies in Buipe, Tamale and Mion.
The suspects, Yacouba Oumar, Abdul Alhassan Kudus and Abdul Rahman Haruna alias Saaga, have been accused of operating with two AK-47 rifles and a pump-action gun.
The IGP said the suspects were linked to the robbery and murder of a mobile money vendor at Fofulso, near Damango Junction, earlier this year and were allegedly involved in robberies along the Fumbisi-Yagaba road and the sale of stolen motorbikes to contacts in Tamale and Savelugu.
Buipe robbery mastermind killed
Mr Yohuno further announced the death of the alleged mastermind of the Buipe Cattle Market robbery and murder.
He identified the suspect as 60-year-old Alhaji Imoro Beliko, also known as Alhaji Yacouba, Masaji, Muimen or Yakubu.
He said the suspect, a trader at the market, allegedly contracted robbers and supplied them with weapons to attack people carrying large sums of money for trading.
The robbery, which occurred on June 29 this year, involved two mobile money vendors who were attacked and robbed of GH¢430,000.
The IGP said police intelligence led officers to the suspect’s whereabouts on September 5; the suspect attempted to escape when the police approached him and was shot. He later died from injuries.
Mr Yohuno also announced the arrest of a suspected gang leader and other persons in connection with a highway robbery on the Enyiresi-Sekyere stretch of the Accra-Kumasi highway on August 18, 2026.
The suspects include the alleged gang leader, identified as Obotan; his mother, who allegedly concealed the weapon used in the robbery, and Issaka Napson, identified as the alleged supplier of weapons to the gang.
Two other suspects, Issaka Majeed and Majeed Huzeifa, were also arrested, alongside a 14-year-old juvenile who allegedly served as a lookout.
Eight AK-47 rifles recovered
IGP Yohuno also disclosed the arrest of five persons suspected of trading in firearms between June and July 2026 and the recovery of eight AK-47 assault rifles, one SMG rifle and two foreign pistols.
“The suspects have been remanded in custody by the Accra Circuit Court, with the case adjourned to September 8,” he added, saying the police were pursuing other suspects who remained at large.
