POLICE ARREST SUSPECTED CRIMINALS, RECOVER 11 AK-47 RIFLES AND HUNDREDS OF ROUNDS OF AMMUNITION
Story by Eugene Nyarko Jnr. | National Police Headquarters, Accra | Monday, September 7, 2026 —
The Ghana Police Service has announced a series of major breakthroughs in its fight against armed robbery and organised crime, resulting in the arrest of several suspects and the recovery of a substantial cache of firearms, ammunition and other weapons.
The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr. Christian Tetteh Yohuno, disclosed this at a press briefing at the National Police Headquarters in Accra on Monday, September 7, 2026.
According to the IGP, the operations followed weeks of intelligence gathering and coordinated interventions by specialised police teams and Regional Police Commands across the country.
He said the operations targeted suspected criminal networks operating in the Western, Northern, Savannah, Greater Accra and Ashanti regions.
Mr. Yohuno said the Police Service had recorded seven major operational breakthroughs, including the arrest of a suspect in connection with the murder of a missing couple, the disruption of bank-related robbery syndicates, the dismantling of armed robbery gangs and the recovery of several AK-47 assault rifles.
Suspect arrested over murder of missing couple
The IGP announced the arrest of 32-year-old Abraham Awundok in connection with the murder of Dr. Jesse Amuah and his wife, Mrs. Elizabeth Amuah Esi, who were reported missing in April 2026.
Investigations, according to the Police, established that the couple had been murdered, leading to searches at their residence and other locations they were believed to have visited.
Their mortal remains were subsequently recovered and conveyed to the Police Hospital Morgue for preservation and autopsy.
Mr. Yohuno said investigations identified Awundok, who worked as an errand boy for the couple, as the alleged perpetrator.
He allegedly took the couple’s mobile phones, money and private vehicle before leaving Ghana for the United Arab Emirates.
The suspect was subsequently declared wanted through an INTERPOL Red Notice and was deported from Dubai to Ghana on August 30, 2026, by investigators from the Anti-Armed Robbery Unit and INTERPOL.
The IGP said the suspect admitted to the murders during interrogation and remains in police custody as investigations continue.
Bank robbery syndicate disrupted
The Police also disclosed the disruption of a suspected robbery syndicate that allegedly targeted bank customers and banks in Accra and Tema.
Mr. Yohuno said police intelligence received in April indicated that a group of criminals was monitoring bank customers, using master keys to open vehicles and, in some instances, breaking into vehicles.
The group was also suspected of planning attacks on banks.
Surveillance conducted by the Office of the Special Operations Assistant to the IGP resulted in the identification of suspected members of the syndicate.
The group was linked to the robbery of GH¢50,000 from a woman at Agbamaame in Tema Community 2 after she withdrew the money from a bank.
The suspects were also linked to an armed attack on a young man at Achimota after he had withdrawn money from a bank.
On August 13, 2026, police surveillance teams reportedly tracked the suspects to Labone and Cantonments, where they were allegedly monitoring banks in preparation for an attack.
The suspects were travelling in a black Hyundai Tucson and a Toyota Highlander.
Police intervention foiled the alleged robbery attempt, with two suspects shot dead, one escaping and another, identified as Augustine Okechuku Maazi, aged 49, arrested.
A search of the Toyota Highlander resulted in the recovery of 13 different vehicle registration plates and a Blow F90 pistol.
Investigations further indicated that the suspects allegedly brought vehicles into Ghana and replaced Nigerian registration plates with Ghanaian plates to facilitate their criminal activities.
Maazi has since been remanded by the court.
Five arrested as robbery gang is dismantled
In another major operation, the Police dismantled a robbery gang allegedly operating across Wassa Akropong, Diaso, Dome, Abofour Camp and the Manso enclave.
The intelligence-led operations, conducted between August and September 4, 2026, resulted in the arrest of five suspects and the death of another suspect during the operation.
Police recovered three AK-47 assault rifles, five magazines, 357 rounds of AK-47 ammunition and two vehicles.
Among those arrested are Clinton Mawuli, 33; Richmond Mensah alias Master Abey; Daniel Sarfo alias Abedi; and Prince Duker.
Another suspect, Seidu Salifu, 40, who was linked to other 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, died during the operation.
The Police also reported the arrest of four suspects in connection with the robbery and murder of a 40-year-old gold buyer, Seth Kobina, at Agona Fie near Agona Nkwanta.
They were identified as Amponsah, Christopher Seyiri alias “Cross and Die”, 47; Bashiru Ibrahim, 20; Thomas Odoom alias “Wale”, 30; and Isaac Quayeson alias “Last Burial”.
Two locally manufactured pistols, five live BB cartridges, a metal bar and two cutlasses were retrieved.
The IGP said special teams had been deployed to the affected areas to strengthen security.
Three arrested over robberies in Northern Ghana
The Northern Regional Police Intelligence Directorate has also 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, are alleged to belong to a robbery gang operating with two AK-47 rifles and a pump-action gun.
The gang is also alleged to have operated along the Fumbisi-Yagaba road and sold stolen motorbikes to contacts in Tamale and Savelugu.
The Police said the suspects were linked to the robbery and murder of a mobile money vendor at Fofulso near Damango Junction earlier this year.
All three suspects are in police custody assisting investigations, while efforts continue to arrest other alleged accomplices and retrieve the remaining weapons.
Buipe cattle market robbery mastermind killed
The IGP further announced the death of Alhaji Imoro Beliko, also known as Alhaji Yacouba, Masaji, Muimen or Yakubu, aged 60, who was allegedly the mastermind behind the Buipe Cattle Market robbery and murder.
The suspect, a trader at the market, was allegedly involved in contracting robbers and supplying them with weapons to attack people carrying large sums of money to the market.
On June 29, 2026, two mobile money vendors at the Buipe Cattle Market were attacked by armed robbers who reportedly made away with GH¢430,000.
Police investigations initially led to the arrest of Yacouba Oumar, 28, and the recovery of a pump-action gun, five live BB cartridges and a single-barrel gun.
The Police Intelligence Directorate subsequently received information on September 5 about the whereabouts of Alhaji Imoro Beliko.
A police team placed him under surveillance, but he reportedly attempted to escape and was shot.
He later died from his injuries.
Gang leader, mother arrested over highway robbery
The Police have also arrested 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 Obotan, identified as the alleged gang leader; his biological mother, who is accused of concealing the weapon used in the robbery; Issaka Napson, alleged to be the supplier of weapons to the gang; Issaka Majeed; and Majeed Huzeifa.
A 14-year-old juvenile who allegedly served as a lookout was also arrested.
Searches at the suspects’ residences led to the recovery of an ADLER pump-action gun, a double-barrel gun, three single-barrel guns, two AA cartridges, a locally manufactured pistol, three cutlasses, two pairs of handcuffs, two jack knives, a canister of pepper spray, a pinch bar, an ammunition pouch, a tactical vest and an unregistered Royal 125 motorbike.
The suspects remain in police custody assisting investigations, while efforts continue to apprehend another suspect identified as Tanko.
Five arrested, eight AK-47 rifles recovered
In a separate operation conducted between June and July 2026, the Office of the Special Operations Assistant to the IGP arrested five suspects allegedly involved in the trading of firearms.
The operation resulted in the recovery of eight AK-47 assault rifles, one SMG rifle and two foreign pistols.
The suspects are Munkaila Yusif alias Karyima, 34; Abdulai Fatawu Boniface, 32; Abdallah Imrana Gomda, 43; Sualesu Sheriffa, 20; and Ibrahim Adams alias Ibru, 35.
The suspects have been remanded into lawful custody by the Accra Circuit Court, with the case adjourned to Tuesday, September 8, 2026.
The Police said other suspects believed to be on the run were being pursued.
IGP thanks President, public and police personnel
Mr. Yohuno commended the police officers who participated in the operations, saying their dedication and professionalism had contributed significantly to the successes recorded.
He also thanked President John Dramani Mahama and the government for providing logistical support, particularly armoured vehicles and pick-ups, which he said had been instrumental in the operations.
The IGP further appealed to members of the public to continue providing credible and timely information on suspects still at large.
He urged the public to report information to the nearest police station or call the Police Emergency Line on 191, assuring informants of strict confidentiality.
Mr. Yohuno also acknowledged the media for its role in disseminating public safety information.
He ended with a stern warning to criminals:
“No matter where you run, no matter where you hide, we will come for you.”
