Two arrested in Obuasi for possessing firearms

The Obuasi Police have arrested two persons for possessing 30 guns and ammunition.

The police also retrieved some dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp from the suspects,

Kwesi Owusu, 60, and Kwame Nyame, 29, were arrested following a tip off by some passengers who had seen Owusu give a parcel and a black plastic bag to Nyame by the roadside.

Briefing the media in Kumasi, the Obuasi Divisional Police Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Mr Kofi Dwumfuor Berchie, said following the tip off, the police arrested Nyame at Nhyiaeso on the Dunkwa-Obuaso road.

He said Nyame subsequently mentioned Owusu as the accomplice.

Mr Berchie said when a further search was conducted at Nyame’s house, 19 pistols, one pump-action gun, 10 double- and single-barrelled guns and materials for the manufacture of local guns were retrieved.

He said the suspects had been remanded in police custody pending further investigations.

In a related development, the Ashanti Regional Police Command has announced a GH¢1,000 reward for any person who will provide information that will lead to the retrieval of an AK 47 assault rifle in the Ashanti Region.

It said any person who would be arrested in possession of an AK 47 assault raffle would first be treated as an armed robber, since those rifles were the preserve of only the security agencies.

The Ashanti Regional Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Mr Nathan Kofi Boakye, announced this at the Regional Police Commander’s Parade and the regional launch of the Re-affirmation of Public Confidence in the Police in Kumasi.

Anonymous philanthropist

Mr Boakye indicated that the reward was being sponsored by an “anonymous philanthropist”.

He said although the level of lawlessness in the region had been brought down, more needed to be done.

Corrupt practices

He described as unacceptable the situation where some policemen “embarrass” the service with their unprofessional and corrupt practices.

Mr Boakye said aside from bribery and extortion, other objectionable attitudes among the police in the region were keeping remand prisoners and suspects in the same cells, malicious prosecution and unlawful arrest and settling personal scores.