...Many robbery, arms, and impersonation suspects also arrested in major crime crackdown

The Ghana Police Service has recorded a series of major operational successes in the fight against violent crime, armed robbery and the proliferation of illegal firearms, following sustained intelligence-led operations conducted between November and December of 2025. 

The operations form part of a broader national strategy to protect lives, secure property, and maintain public safety across the country.

Briefing the media on Wednesday (December 31, 2025) in Accra, the Director-General of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), COP Lydia Yaako Donkor, announced the arrest of a key suspect in connection with the daylight robbery at a jewellery shop at Adabraka in Accra, where GH¢7.5 million from a gold transaction was stolen while being conveyed to a bank in November 2024.

Related article: Daylight robbery in Accra: Gunmen escape with sacks of money from Adabraka market

The suspect, identified as Salim Mohammed, also known as Fariwata, according to the CID boss was arrested on November 20, 2025 at a hospital in Ashaiman, where he had gone to seek medical attention after months of intelligence-led surveillance.

Preliminary investigations, she said,  revealed that the suspect and his accomplices, armed with AK-47 assault rifles, intercepted the victim’s vehicle, fired multiple shots to scare away onlookers, injured the driver and escaped with the cash. 

COP Donkor said the police were currently pursuing the remaining suspects and working to recover the stolen money.

Phone snatching, robbery syndicate

In a related development, she said the CID has arrested five members of a notorious phone snatching and armed robbery syndicate operating in parts of Accra and Tema.

The suspects, Seth Tetteh Noi, also known as Wonder; Emmanuel Selasi Monyekor; Abdul Fatao Sameed; Karam Fatao; and Abdul Jamel Mohammed, were arrested at their hideouts between December 24 and 26, 2025, following intelligence-led operations.

COP Donkor said the gang had been involved in street, residential, and workplace robberies across Oyibi, Appolonia, Spintex, Airport Residential Area, East Legon Hills, Zenu Atadeka, Ashaiman and Kasoa.

She said searches conducted during the operations led to the recovery of a pistol and a pump-action gun believed to have been used in several robberies. 

She added that investigations further linked the syndicate to a violent robbery attack on mourners attending a funeral at Ashaiman Under Bridge, where cash and valuables worth over GH¢200,000 were stolen.

COP Donkor disclosed that further intelligence enabled police to foil another planned robbery at the Ashaiman China Mall, leading to additional arrests and the disruption of the gang’s activities.

Eight arrested

COP Donkor also revealed that the police had also arrested eight suspects in connection with a violent residential robbery at Appolonia in the Greater Accra Region.

The suspects, Selasi Ofori, 26; Bismark Gati, 23; Believer Meketor, 22; Michael Obeng, 22; Sadik Abukakar, 25; Dawudu Fatawu, 28; Samuel Ofori, 21; and Destiny Idegbe were arrested on November 8, 2025, following intelligence-led investigations.

She said the suspects attacked residents in their homes, ransacked rooms, and made away with valuable items. 

Exhibits retrieved, she said, included helmets, a cutlass, boots, and a body armour vest, which were being used to assist ongoing investigations.

Fake soldier arrested with weapons

In another operation, the Director General of the CID said the police arrested a suspect for impersonating a soldier and using the disguise to facilitate criminal activities.

According to her, the suspect had been operating in Ashalaja in the Greater Accra Region, as well as parts of Ashanti, Bekwai and Kyebi in the Eastern Region. 

She said he was arrested while dressed in full military camouflage.

According COP Donkor, a search on him uncovered two unregistered foreign pistols, one live 9mm round, two live AK-47 rounds, a military camouflage bag, a bayonet, a Huawei Gota set and a pair of handcuffs bearing serial number 46446. 

She said the suspect was in custody as investigations continue to trace his accomplices and the source of the weapons.

Arms dealer arrested

She said the police also arrested an arms dealer in Accra on December 29, 2025, following intelligence indicating that a man intended to sell an assault rifle.

The suspect, identified as Abdulai Ibrahim, was arrested at Sodom and Gomorrah at about 7:45 p.m. while attempting to sell a CZ rifle for GH¢35,000.

During interrogation, COP Donkor said he admitted to previously purchasing and transporting seven pump-action guns to Wulensi in the Northern Region and disclosed that he sourced the weapons from another arms dealer operating around the UTC area in Accra.

She said efforts were ongoing to dismantle the wider illegal arms supply network.