Police Team Under Attack

The Police Headquarters in Accra has confirmed that  a patrol team from the Axim Divisional office was recently attacked by a gang of four that seized a service riffle and some  mobile phones belonging to the Police officers now turned victims.

A Statement from the Headquarters said it has also sighted what is believed to be a video footage of the attack. The said video footage, now gone viral, showed the attacked Police personnel, pleading with members of the gang while the gang is alleging extortion by the police officers.

One policeman was actually seen kneeling down pleading with the gang to take it easy on his colleagues. Another policeman was also seen with his police uniform, the shirt removed and being manhandled by the gang.

A man who appeared to be leader of the gang and wearing what looks like a military camouflage was heard narrating the incident leading to the manhandling of the overpowered police personnel.

He was heard saying “Why are you arresting me? You asked me to show you something, I showed you where it was but you said you were taking me away, where are you sending me to? You came to the site to ask for money which we gave you. All that you asked for, we gave you but you insisted you were taking me away. Where are you sending me to?”

In response, one of the policemen was seen and heard saying “You are my guy so why are you doing this?”, which created an impression that both the attacked and the attackers were familiar with themselves.

The Police statement, signed by Grace Ansah-Akrofi, Assistant Commissioner and Director at the Public Affairs Directorate noted:

1. On 9th March 2023, the Axim Divisional Police patrol team reported an attack on the team by a gang that seized the magazine of a Service rifle together with some mobile phones belonging to the Police officers.
2. An intelligence operation was immediately launched after the report to get the suspects arrested.
3. On 28th March 2023, after about three weeks of the intelligence operation, four men, Kojo Siah alias Mozey, Emmanuel Mensah alias Kofi Asamoah, Maxwell Cudjoe and Agyabu Haruna Dissawu were arrested for their suspected involvement in the attack.
4. A search conducted at the residence of Kwame Ato Asare Ani, the prime suspect, who is still on the run, led to the retrieval of three (3) pump-action shotguns. Also, one (1) pump-action shotgun, (2) machetes and eight (8) BB refilled cartridges were retrieved from the suspect’s unregistered Honda CRV vehicle, Other items retrieved from the suspects include two (2) live refilled BB cartridges and one (1) unregistered motorbike.
5. On 1st April 2023, while the investigations were ongoing to get the remaining suspects arrested, the attention of the Police was drawn to a video footage in which the said Police personnel, members of the Axim Patrol team, are shown pleading with members of the gang while the gang is alleging extortion by the police officers.
6. The allegation of extortion against the officers has been referred to the Police Professional

Standards Bureau (PPSB) for investigation.

7. All the suspects in the reported attack on the patrol team, who had been arrested, have been put before court and have been remanded in custody. Efforts are continuing to get the remaining suspects arrested.